President Joe Biden of the United States (U.S.), on Tuesday, described the attack coordinated by Hamas against the state of Israel as “pure and unadulterated evil”.
Flanked by the Vice President and Secretary of State at the White House while addressing the media, he declared that the American Government would continue to stand with Israel in the war against terror.
He also promised to get more assistance from the Congress for Israel.
“We’ll make sure Israel has what it needs to take care of itself,” Biden said from the White House.
Hamas militants attacked Israel on Saturday, killing more than 1,000 people, including at least 14 Americans.
Others were abducted. It is believed some Americans are among the hostages being held by Hamas.
Israel has responded with a siege and heavy bombing of the Gaza Strip.
“Like every nation in the world, Israel has the right to respond – indeed has a duty to respond – to these vicious attacks,” Biden said.
Biden has expressed full-throated support for Israel in the wake of what he and U.S. officials have described as terrorist attacks. The president spent the long holiday weekend meeting with his national security team and working the phones with allies, including calls with Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.
Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke to Netanyahu ahead of the president’s remarks.
Biden pledged full U.S. support, with aid already on the way to Israel.
The president said the U.S. would send military systems to replenish Iron Dome, the Israeli air-defence system.
“When Congress returns, I’m going to ask them to take urgent action to fund the national security requirements of our critical partners.
“As president, I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans being held hostage around the world,” he said.
He ordered American intelligence officials to work with Israel on hostage recovery efforts.
The USS Gerald Ford Strike Group — which includes an aircraft carrier, a guided missile cruiser, and guided missile destroyers — is already making its way to the Mediterranean.
The president also delivered a warning to other actors in the region.
“To anyone thinking of taking advantage of this situation, I have one word: Don’t”.
