October 10, 2023
This afternoon President Biden outlined the US’s support of Israel in this war with Hamas but also talked about what that’s actually going to look like.
As of today – President Biden said 14 American citizens have been killed and 20 or more are missing – some of those are likely being held hostage by Hamas along with many other Israelis. Hamas is not the same as the Palestinian people. Hamas is the group that governs the Gaza Strip and has -for years- been has declared a terrorist organization by the United States.
Since the attacks started over the weekend – President Biden has spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu three times. He offered to send US specialists in hostage recovery to the area to try and recover those who were taken. And while he urged Israel to comply with the international rules of war he did not suggest Israel should show restraint against Hamas– in fact, he told the Prime Minister – if this was happening to America we would act swiftly, decisively and overwhelmingly.
So what does this US support look like. So are — under his power as Commander in Chief the President has already surged military assets like weapons systems and replenishments for Iron Dome interceptors but he also sent the USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier strike group to the area. The President did not suggest that there would be American boots on the ground in this conflict – instead he said the role of the u-s military is to deter any more violence.
President Biden also suggested this military aid won’t be the end of it.
What exactly that aid package will look like, we just don’t know yet. We also know nothing can be done until there is an elected Speaker of the House. But both the Republican candidates for Speaker have already suggested an emergency aid package for Israel would be the first order of business once someone is elected.
Watch President Biden’s full speech here.
