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Israel has duty to respond to Hamas, says Biden Israel has duty to respond to Hamas, says Biden
(about 2 hours later)
Biden: Hamas unleashed 'pure unadulterated evil'Biden: Hamas unleashed 'pure unadulterated evil'
Biden: Hamas unleashed 'pure unadulterated evil'Biden: Hamas unleashed 'pure unadulterated evil'
US President Joe Biden has said that Israel has a duty and a right to respond to Hamas' "terrorism" as fighting continues near Gaza. US President Joe Biden has said Israel has a right and a duty to respond to Hamas' attacks over the weekend, which he called an "act of sheer evil".
In his remarks, Mr Biden said that the US will "stand with Israel" and provide whatever assistance it needs. In forceful remarks, he said the US would "stand with Israel" and provide whatever assistance it needed.
Mr Biden said that at least 14 Americans had been killed in the fighting, with others taken as hostages. Mr Biden said at least 14 Americans had been killed in the attacks and other US citizens had been taken hostage.
He added there was no justification for the "rampages" by Hamas. In a later briefing on Tuesday, a national security spokesman said at least 20 Americans were missing.
The identities of US citizens killed or missing have not yet been announced by officials. It is not clear how many of those have been taken captive by Hamas, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said.
In a 10-minute speech at the White House, Mr Biden condemned what he termed "an act of sheer evil" from Hamas, comparing the attacks to "the worst rampages" of the so-called Islamic State. Militants from the group, which is designated a terrorist organisation by the US, breached the border fence in the Gaza Strip in several places on Saturday and launched the most serious cross-border attack Israel has faced in a generation.
"Like every nation in the world, Israel has the right to respond, and indeed has a duty to respond, to these vicious attacks," Mr Biden said, adding that the US response in a similar situation would be "swift, decisive and overwhelming". Some 1,200 people have been killed in Israel since Saturday. More than 950 people have died in retaliatory Israeli air strikes on Gaza.
Standing alongside Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Mr Biden also said the US was sharing intelligence with Israel and had deployed experts to "consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts". Standing alongside Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the White House, Mr Biden said there was no justification for the "rampages" by Hamas militants.
"As president, I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans being held hostage around the world," he added. "There are moments in this life, and I mean this literally, when the pure unadulterated evil is unleashed on this world," Mr Biden said. "The people of Israel lived through one such moment this weekend."
The death toll in Israel stands at 1,200 after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack from Gaza on Saturday. More than 900 people have been killed by retaliatory Israeli air strikes on Gaza since then. He condemned what he called "stomach turning" reports of "parents butchered" and "entire families slain".
At a separate news conference on Tuesday, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that "20 or more" Americans are missing, although US officials are unsure of how many have been taken captive.
Mr Sullivan added that Mr Blinken - who has been focused on securing the release of hostages in Gaza - will travel to Israel "in the coming days" to meet with Israeli officials.
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"We will work hour-by-hour both to determine whether we can account for any of those Americans, or to confirm exactly the number of Americans held hostage," he added.
The US is sharing intelligence with Israel, Mr Biden said, and had deployed experts to "advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts".
Earlier this week, the US announced plans to move naval forces - including an aircraft carrier - to the eastern Mediterranean. US Air Force squadrons based in the region are also being bolstered with additional combat aircraft.Earlier this week, the US announced plans to move naval forces - including an aircraft carrier - to the eastern Mediterranean. US Air Force squadrons based in the region are also being bolstered with additional combat aircraft.
US defence officials have said they are working with their Israeli counterparts to expedite shipments of military supplies and ammunition to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). Mr Biden said that he will ask Congress to take "urgent action" to fund the requirements of US allies. Mr Biden said he would ask Congress to take urgent action to provide more support. The White House is considering submitting a request to Congress that would include more military aid for both Ukraine and Israel, a source told Reuters.
And on Tuesday night the White House said Mr Biden and Ms Harris spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, where they pledged to supply fresh ammunition for Israel's Iron Dome missile defence system. Mr Biden and Ms Harris spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday and pledged to supply fresh ammunition for Israel's Iron Dome missile defence system.
"Let there be no doubt - the United States has Israel's back," Mr Biden said in his remarks. "We'll make sure the Jewish and democratic state of Israel can defend itself today, tomorrow, as we always have". Mr Blinken is expected to travel to Israel on Wednesday to meet senior Israeli officials.
While the FBI has said it has no "specific intelligence" regarding threats in the US stemming from the conflict, Mr Biden said that police across the country have stepped up security around Jewish sites "to identify and disrupt any domestic threat that could emerge in connection with these horrific attacks". Israel has massed hundreds of thousands of troops as well as tanks and other heavy armour around Gaza, prompting speculation it is readying for a potential ground invasion as air strikes continue.
While the FBI has said it has no specific intelligence regarding threats in the US stemming from the conflict, Mr Biden said police across the country had stepped up security around Jewish sites "to identify and disrupt any domestic threat that could emerge in connection with these horrific attacks".
"There is no place for hate in America. Not against Jews, not against Muslims, not against anybody," he said."There is no place for hate in America. Not against Jews, not against Muslims, not against anybody," he said.
US Democrat: 'We should be aiding Israel militarily, diplomatically'US Democrat: 'We should be aiding Israel militarily, diplomatically'
US Democrat: 'We should be aiding Israel militarily, diplomatically'US Democrat: 'We should be aiding Israel militarily, diplomatically'
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