Israel war: Biden recognizes increase in US death toll, calling it ‘heart wrenching’

President Joe Biden released a lengthy statement on Monday about the “heart wrenching” violence in Israel, his first comments on the situation after discussions with Israeli leaders and other U.S. allies earlier in the day.

Biden said the number of known Americans killed by Hamas terrorists in Israel over the weekend had been raised to 11 and added it is “likely that American citizens may be among those being held by Hamas.”

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“It’s heart wrenching. These families have been torn apart by inexcusable hatred and violence. We also know that American citizens still remain unaccounted for, and we are working with Israeli officials to obtain more information as to their whereabouts,” the president wrote. “My heart goes out to every family impacted by the horrible events of the past few days. The pain these families have endured, the enormity of their loss, and the agony of those still awaiting information is unfathomable.”

Biden said the administration is working directly with its Israeli counterparts “on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts.” He further urged any Americans who remain in Israel to seek commercial flight and ground transportation out of the country.

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“This is not some distant tragedy. The ties between Israel and the United States run deep. It is personal for so many American families who are feeling the pain of this attack as well as the scars inflicted through millennia of antisemitism and persecution of Jewish people,” the president said. “In cities across the country, police departments have stepped up security around centers of Jewish life, and the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other federal law enforcement partners are closely monitoring for any domestic threats in connection with the horrific terrorist attacks in Israel.”

“In this moment of heartbreak, the American people stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Israelis. We remember the pain of being attacked by terrorists at home, and Americans across the country stand united against these evil acts that have once more claimed innocent American lives,” he wrote. “It is an outrage. And we will continue to show the world that the American people are unwavering in our resolve to oppose terrorism in all forms.”