Biden speaks of Oct. 7 and commitment to getting hostages home at Hanukkah reception
Source: ABC News
December 16, 2024, 9:11 PM
Speaking at his last Hanukkah reception of his administration, President Joe Biden on Monday night reiterated his "ironclad" support for Israel and said he was committed to getting every single one of the hostages home.
"I know this year's Hanukkah falls on the hearts that are still very heavy. It's the second Hanukkah since the horrors of Oct. 7. Over 1,000 slaughtered, hundreds taken hostage, unspeakable sexual violence and so much more. The trauma of that day and its aftermath is still raw and ongoing," Biden said. "I've gotten over 100 hostages out. I will not stop so I get every single one of them home," he added.
The president also denounced the "despicable surge of antisemitism" in the U.S. and around the world. "I've said many times before, my commitment to the safety of the Jewish people and security of Israel and its right to exist as an independent nation-state remains ironclad," he said.
During his remarks, Biden recalled taking each of his grandchildren to concentration camps in Europe so they would understand the horrors of the Holocaust. "I wanted them to know that you couldn't pretend it didn't happen, and it should never happen again," Biden said.
Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/biden-speaks-oct-7-commitment-hostages-home-hanukkah/story?id=116851278