Washington is committed to marking the anniversary of Hamas attacks against Israel. international

The United States Government dedicated itself this Monday to commemorating the first anniversary of Hamas attacks on Israeli territory and paying tribute to the victims. President Joe Biden, who he says no other US president has done so much for Israel, attended a Jewish funeral ceremony and spoke by phone with his Israeli counterpart, Isaac Herzog. Both he and his vice president and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris have issued separate statements reiterating their commitment to the Jewish people and Israel’s right to defend itself, as the ally escalates its attacks in Gaza and Lebanon. doing.

The anniversary has been celebrated with great intensity in Israel’s main military, diplomatic and economic ally. The year of war in Gaza has created deep political divisions in the United States, especially within the Democratic Party. Of the 1,200 people killed in the October 7 attacks, 46 were Americans, as well as a dozen of the 250 hostages kidnapped that day. Since the beginning of the conflict, Biden has declared his unwavering support for the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, causing deep divisions among Democrats and threatening to snatch that party’s votes from progressive groups in next month’s presidential election. There is danger.

In addition to the statement, Harris planned to attend a ceremony at the Naval Observatory, her official residence in Washington, to plant a tree in memory of the victims of that day. His Republican rival, former President Donald Trump, was in Florida meeting with leaders of the American Jewish community.

“Vice President Harris and I are fully committed to the safety of the Jewish people, the security of Israel, and its right to exist. “We support Israel’s right to defend itself against attacks by the Lebanese Shia militia Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthi rebels in Yemen, and Iran, the state that sponsors them all,” Biden declared in his statement. Ceasefire agreement for Gaza.

The US President recalled that throughout the 12 months of conflict that began with these attacks, “too many civilians have suffered, and thousands have been killed.” Nearly 42,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli bombardments against Gaza, according to health ministry figures in the Strip. Biden has explained that this human cost is “exacerbated by the fact that terrorists hide and operate among innocent people.”

The US President has reiterated his desire to achieve a ceasefire agreement in Gaza that would allow a prisoner exchange and pave the way for an end to the war, a goal that has not been achieved despite several rounds of talks since December Has gone. “Israelis and Palestinians deserve to live in security, peace and dignity,” he stressed.

Regarding the conflict on the Israeli-Lebanese border, Biden has assured: “We believe that a diplomatic solution to the border area will restore lasting peace and allow the safe return of residents on both sides to their homes. The only way.” of the dividing line).

This was the same message he had transmitted in his telephone conversation with Herzog, in which he reiterated that the United States “will not give up until we achieve the return of all the hostages captured on October 7 last year.” Will agree.” A day of unspeakable cruelty. According to the White House, the two leaders “reaffirmed their commitment to achieving an agreement in Gaza that returns hostages to their homes, provides security for Israel, alleviates the suffering of Palestinian civilians, and targets Hamas.” “Opens the way to lasting peace.” “We can never again control Gaza or rebuild our military capacity.”

The call came before a brief Jewish religious ceremony in the Blue Room of the White House to honor the victims. Rabbi Aaron Alexander – a friend of the family of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, one of the American hostages captured on October 7 and killed the previous August – read the prayer El Maleh RachamimA traditional prayer recited especially at funerals or the anniversary of a death and dedicated to the souls of “the blessed men, women and children murdered” on that day.

Biden and his wife, first lady Jill Biden, listened to a prayer in silence, before lighting a white candle to pay tribute to the deceased. The president, a practicing Catholic, crossed himself at the end of the ceremony and walked away without making any statements or accepting questions, reflecting the solemnity of the moment.

Vice President Harris, who met with representatives of the Arab American community in Michigan this weekend, also expressed her support for the ceasefire in her statement. At the same time, he stressed: “I will do everything in my power to ensure that the threat that Hamas represents is eliminated, that it can never again rule Gaza, that it can destroy Israel and Fail in its mission to destroy the people of Gaza.” Freed from the grip of Hamas… I will always ensure that Israel has everything it needs to defend itself against Iran and Iranian-backed terrorists like Hamas. “My commitment to Israel’s security is unwavering.”