By Matthew Lee and Aamer Madhani | Related Press
WASHINGTON — The variety of U.S. residents confirmed to have been killed within the Israel-Hamas battle has risen to a minimum of 22, the State Division stated Wednesday. That’s a rise from 14 the day earlier than.
U.S. residents are also among the many estimated 150 hostages captured by Hamas militants throughout their surprising weekend assault on Israel, President Joe Biden confirmed on Tuesday. The battle has already claimed a minimum of 2,200 lives on either side.
The assault raised questions in regards to the potential affect of Iran, the primary sponsor of Hamas, and whether or not Iran had something to do with it. However the U.S. has collected info that implies senior Iranian authorities officers have been caught off guard by the multipronged assault, in keeping with a U.S. official who wasn’t licensed to debate the matter publicly and spoke on situation of anonymity. That piece of intelligence has knowledgeable White Home officers publicly asserting that it has not but seen proof of direct involvement by Iran within the planning or execution of the Hamas assault.
Biden, who is ready to satisfy with Jewish leaders later Wednesday, sought to attach the Hamas assaults on to a long time of antisemitism and violence endured by Jews all over the world.
“This assault has delivered to the floor the painful recollections and scars left by a millennium of antisemitism and genocide in opposition to the Jewish folks,” Biden instructed reporters. He added, “We’ve to be crystal clear: There is no such thing as a justification for terrorism, no excuse and the kind of terrorism that was exhibited right here is simply past the pale, past the pale.”
Biden stated he and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke by cellphone on Wednesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It was a minimum of the fourth name between Biden and Netanyahu since Saturday’s assault.
“The USA has Israel’s again and we’re going to be engaged on this by the day and past,” Biden stated.
