The United States President Joe Biden has condemned the recent attacks by Hamas on Israel, calling them “terrorism” and comparing them to the worst rampages of ISIS.
Making this statement on his X handle on Wednesday morning, he said that the brutality of Hamas, the blood-thirstiness, brings to mind the worst rampages of ISIS.
He wrote, “The brutality of Hamas, the blood-thirstiness, brings to mind the worst rampages of ISIS.
“This is terrorism.”
He expressed his full support for Israel’s right to defend itself and urged both sides to de-escalate the situation and resume negotiations. He also called on the international community to join him in condemning Hamas and holding them accountable for their actions.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas has escalated into a full-scale war, with both sides launching deadly attacks and taking hostages. The violence has sparked international condemnation and calls for an immediate ceasefire.
The war began on Saturday, October 7, when Hamas militants breached the border fence from Gaza and launched a surprise assault on several towns in southern Israel. The attack, which involved rockets, drones, tunnels and suicide bombers, was unprecedented in its scope and intensity. It killed more than 700 Israelis, including civilians and soldiers, and wounded thousands more. Hamas claimed it was retaliating for Israel’s blockade of Gaza and its recent raids on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem.
Israel responded with a massive aerial and ground offensive, targeting Hamas’ military infrastructure and leadership in Gaza. Israel also declared a state of emergency and mobilized thousands of reservists to join the fight. Israel said it had regained control of the border area by Tuesday, but warned that the operation was not over yet. Israel also announced that it would impose a complete siege on Gaza, cutting off all supplies of water, electricity and food to the territory.
Hamas, which rules Gaza, said it had inflicted heavy losses on the Israeli army and captured more than 100 hostages, including Israeli officers. Hamas also continued to fire rockets at Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, despite Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system. Hamas said it was defending the Palestinian people and their rights to Jerusalem and Gaza.
The death toll from the conflict has surpassed 1,800, with more than 1,000 people killed and 2,700 injured in Israel, and at least 900 people killed and 4,500 injured in Gaza, according to health officials on both sides. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire, as medical facilities are overwhelmed and basic services are disrupted. The UN has warned of a looming humanitarian catastrophe and urged both parties to respect international humanitarian law and protect civilians.
The international community has expressed grave concern over the situation and called for an immediate end to the hostilities. The US, which is Israel’s closest ally, has condemned Hamas’ attack as “sheer evil” and reaffirmed its support for Israel’s right to self-defense. However, the US has also urged Israel to avoid civilian casualties and work towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict. The US has sent its envoy to the region to facilitate diplomatic efforts.
Other countries, such as Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and Russia, have also been involved in trying to mediate a ceasefire between the two sides. However, so far, no agreement has been reached. The UN Security Council has held several emergency meetings on the crisis, but has failed to issue a joint statement due to disagreements among its members.
The conflict is the worst since the 2014 Gaza war, which lasted for 50 days and killed more than 2,200 people. It has also reignited tensions across the region and sparked protests and clashes in several countries. The conflict poses a serious threat to regional stability and global security, as well as to the prospects of a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
