On the night of October 9, well after the Saturday blitz Hamas launched into Israel, taking numerous hostages while slaying many more Israelis and raining rockets down on Israel’s cities, President Joe Biden took to Twitter to announce that the Administration believes nearly a dozen Americans were killed in the attack and others were taken hostage.
“As we continue to account for the horrors of the terrorist assault against Israel this weekend and the hundreds of civilians murdered, we are seeing the immense scale and reach of this tragedy. Sadly, we now know that at least 11 American citizens were among those killed,” the President’s X account said,
Continuing, he added, “It’s heart-wrenching. These families have been torn apart by inexcusable hatred and violence, and my heart goes out to every family impacted. The pain these families have endured, the enormity of their loss, and the agony of those still awaiting information is unfathomable.”
He then said, “The safety of American citizens is my top priority. We are still working to confirm but believe it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held by Hamas. I’ve directed my team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis.”
Ending, his tweet thread said, “For American citizens who are currently in Israel, the State Department is providing consular assistance as well as updated security alerts. For those who desire to leave, commercial flights and ground options are still available.”
As we continue to account for the horrors of the terrorist assault against Israel this weekend and the hundreds of civilians murdered, we are seeing the immense scale and reach of this tragedy.
Sadly, we now know that at least 11 American citizens were among those killed. pic.twitter.com/64GmhuoRob
— President Biden (@POTUS) October 9, 2023
Biden later updated that number in a speech on October 10, saying that 14 Americans have been killed in the attacks: “More than 1,000 civilians slaughtered — not just killed, slaughtered — in Israel. Among them, at least 14 American citizens killed,” he said.
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In that speech, which was, to his credit, a strong one (for him), as in it he resisted the impulse of those on the “Squad” and called Hamas members terrorists In those remarks on the situation, he said, in part, “The brutality of Hamas — this bloodthirstiness — brings to mind the worst — the worst rampages of ISIS. This is terrorism.”
Continuing, he said, “This attack has brought to the surface painful memories and the scars left by a millennia of antisemitism and genocide of the Jewish people. So, in this moment, we must be crystal clear: We stand with Israel. We stand with Israel. And we will make sure Israel has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself, and respond to this attack. There is no justification for terrorism. There is no excuse.”
He then said, “Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian people’s right to dignity and self-determination. Its stated purpose is the annihilation of the State of Israel and the murder of Jewish people. They use Palestinian civilians as human shields. Hamas offers nothing but terror and bloodshed with no regard to who pays the price. The loss of innocent life is heartbreaking. Like every nation in the world, Israel has the right to respond — indeed has a duty to respond — to these vicious attacks. I just got off the phone with — the third call with Prime Minister Netanyahu. And I told him if the United States experienced what Israel is experiencing, our response would be swift, decisive, and overwhelming.“