(Washington) Joe Biden, unreservedly taking on the role of Israel’s primary supporter, hammered home Tuesday in a vigorous speech that he would help the Jewish state defend itself against “pure evil.”
“There are moments in existence […] where pure evil strikes the world. The people of Israel have just experienced one of those moments, at the blood-stained hands of the terrorist organization Hamas, a group whose stated goal is to kill Jews,” he said from the White House.
In a voice sometimes vibrating with anger, the American president spoke of the “killed babies” and the “entire families massacred” in the massive and unprecedented offensive launched on Saturday by the Palestinian Islamist group against Israel.
“At this time, we must be absolutely clear. We stand alongside Israel,” he declared, in the presence of Vice-President Kamala Harris and the head of diplomacy Antony Blinken, who will visit the Jewish state on Thursday as a sign of “solidarity and Support “.
American hostages
In total, the war has already left more than 3,000 dead on both sides, civilians, Israeli soldiers and Palestinian fighters.
Joe Biden confirmed, without giving details, that American citizens were among the Hamas hostages and also reported a new toll of 14 Americans killed.
His national security adviser Jake Sullivan indicated that Washington remained without news of “20 nationals or more”, specifying that this did not mean that all these people were hostages.
Hamas, which has controlled the small territory of Gaza since 2007, is threatening to execute hostages kidnapped in Israel, around 150 people including children, women, the elderly and young people captured during a music festival.
The American president indicated that the United States, which sent a carrier strike group to the outskirts of Israel, was ready to deploy “additional resources if necessary” to prevent the war from spreading.
He also promised resources for the “Iron Dome”, Israel’s powerful anti-missile defense system.
“Overwhelming”
Joe Biden, who previously spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, told him that if the United States were in Israel’s place, its response would be “swift, resolute and overwhelming.” »
The Jewish state “has the right, and even the duty, to defend itself against these hateful attacks,” Joe Biden declared.
At a time when Israel is increasing its strikes against Gaza and has imposed a “total siege” on the enclave, the 80-year-old democrat, without explicitly calling for any reservations, declared: “democracies such as Israel and the “The United States is stronger and safer when it acts according to the law.”
Jake Sullivan later said that Washington had no intention of establishing “red lines” that Israeli forces should not cross, nor of issuing “warnings.”
He mentioned, without going into detail, discussions with Israel and Egypt to allow civilians to leave Gaza.
Executions
PHOTO LEAH MILLIS, REUTERS
The White House was lit in the colors of the Israeli flag Monday evening.
Since Saturday, the United States has played its traditional role as Israel’s primary defender to the fullest.
Joe Biden in particular has put aside his reservations, sometimes expressed publicly, in the face of the very right-wing government of Benyamin Netanyahu.
The question of support for Israel is politically very charged in the United States, especially in the context of the campaign for the 2024 election, during which the president will seek a second term.
Since Saturday, the White House has suffered an avalanche of Republican criticism for its policy deemed too lenient towards Iran, the primary supporter of Hamas.
Joe Biden also faces an undermined institutional situation, since one of the chambers of Congress currently no longer has a leader, due to internal quarrels between conservatives.
However, it is up to Congress, in the United States, to make major budgetary decisions, whether for additional aid to Israel or to continue to support the Ukrainian war effort, something some hard-right elected officials are calling for. oppose.