The US and Israel

The Story

President Biden made clear his administrationstands with Israel.

Go on.

In a televised 10-minute address yesterday, Biden called Hamas’s attack on Israel “pure unadulterated evil.” He spoke about young people slaughtered at a music festival, infants and Holocaust survivors abducted,and women “assaulted, paraded as trophies.”As he put it, Hamas’s terrorism evoked “the worst rampages of ISIS.”Then he spoke about US hostages.

What’s the status?

At least 20 Americans are still unaccounted for with 14 confirmed killed.Biden said there was “no higher priority” for his administration than their safe return. He also warned anyone or country thinking of taking advantage of the conflict: “don’t.”And he said “like every nation in the world, Israel has the right to respond.”

What does the speech mean for the region?

The admin is pushing for more aid to Israel from Congress. Biden didn’t urge Israel to show restraint in Gaza and said “there is no justification for terrorism.”He didn’t address whether he regrets releasing $6 billion in frozen funds to Iran in exchange for the release of five Americans.

What’s the latest on the ground?

In Gaza: Israel is now preparing for a ground invasion after carrying out hundreds of airstrikes that have left over 900 people dead. One man said an Israeli airstrike wiped out 19 members of his family. Palestinians in Gaza do not have bomb shelters and Israel is now carrying out a siege on water, food, and fuel.

In Israel: The death toll is now over 1,200 people — among the deadliest events in Israel’s history. Many are still trying to identify the dead and hostages while Hamas has continued to send 2,000 rockets. Meanwhile, the country is seeing an uptick in gunfire exchange at its northern border with Lebanon.

theSkimm

The US’s relationship with Israel spans decades. Now, Biden is asking for military aid for Israel from a Congress that couldn’t agree on aid for Ukraine.