US President Joe Biden and his Vice President, Kamala Harris, affirmed their commitment to Israel’s security and its right to defend itself, and that a diplomatic solution on the border between Israel and Lebanon is the only way to restore calm.
In two separate statements on the anniversary of the October 7 attacks, Biden said: “The October 7 attack brought back painful memories left by thousands of years of hatred and violence against the Jewish people,” reiterating that “we support Israel’s right to defend itself against the attacks of Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and Iran… We will not “We will never surrender until we return all remaining hostages safely to their homeland.”
He added: “We must all stand united against anti-Semitism and against hatred in all its forms.”
He continued, saying: “We still believe that a diplomatic solution across the Israeli-Lebanese border area is the only way to restore lasting calm and allow residents on both sides to return safely to their homes.”
For her part, Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, said: “I will never forget the horror of October 7, 2023, and this war has once again ignited a deep fear among the Jewish people, not only in Israel, but also in the United States and around the world.”
She added, “I will do everything in my power to ensure that the threat posed by Hamas is eliminated, that it is unable to rule Gaza again, that it fails in its mission to annihilate Israel, and that the people of Gaza are liberated from Hamas’ grip.” I will always ensure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself against Iran and Hamas,” stressing that “my commitment to Israel’s security is unwavering.”
She added: “It is time to reach an agreement on hostages and a ceasefire to end the suffering of innocent people.” I will always fight for the Palestinian people to be able to realize their right to dignity, freedom, security and self-determination. We also continue to believe that a diplomatic solution across the Israeli-Lebanese border area is the only way to restore lasting calm and allow residents on both sides to return safely to their homes.”
Last updated: October 7, 2024 – 17:07
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2024-10-08 06:03:23