Addressing the nation from the White House, President Biden announced that 14 American citizens had lost their lives during Hamas’s incursions into Israel and revealed that several President Biden. citizens were currently being held hostage.
As Israeli forces reclaimed approximately two dozen towns and villages near Gaza from Hamas fighters, the horrifying extent of the atrocities committed against civilians began to come to light. In Kfar Azza, a kibbutz situated just a mile and a half from Gaza, a tragic scene unfolded. There were over a dozen lifeless bodies strewn across the ground, with soldiers solemnly carrying the deceased residents on stretchers. Many houses had been looted or reduced to ashes. Major General Itai Veruv, an Israeli commander at the scene, described the situation, saying, “It’s not a war or a battlefield; it’s a massacre.”
Meanwhile, in Washington, President Biden revealed that over 1,000 civilians, including women, children, and the elderly, had lost their lives at the hands of Hamas fighters, actions he unequivocally labeled as “pure unadulterated evil.” He went on to announce that 14 Americans were among the casualties. Furthermore, President Biden confirmed that American citizens were among those held hostage by Hamas militants, who threatened to harm them if Israel targeted civilians without prior warning. “This is terrorism,” he declared, as he addressed the nation from the White House, reaffirming his unwavering support for Israel.
Four U.S. lawmakers convened with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli government officials on Tuesday, framing their visit as a demonstration of unwavering support following the unexpected Hamas attacks over the weekend.
At a press conference held in Israel, Representative Jimmy Panetta, a Democrat from California, articulated their stance, stating, “We stand shoulder to shoulder so that we can go toe to toe with any terrorist going forward. It is from our solidarity that we draw our strength.”
On Sunday evening, Eylon Levy, a Tel Aviv resident, received a heartfelt plea within one of his WhatsApp groups. The message conveyed that a funeral for Bruna Valeanu, a 24-year-old who tragically lost her life at a music festival near Israel’s border with Gaza on Saturday, was scheduled for 10 p.m. Ms. Valeanu, a student at Tel Aviv University, had immigrated from Brazil, and a significant portion of her family remained overseas.