As the Israel-Hamas War continues, 111 of the 251 hostages taken by Hamas terrorists in the October 7th attacks remain in Gaza. This week, in southern Gaza, Israeli forces recovered five bodies of hostages killed by their Hamas captors. Of the American citizens taken hostage, eight have yet to be recovered, and, tragically, three of these are known to have lost their lives. It remains uncertain how many other hostages are still alive.
Tasked with confronting such a grave situation, the Biden-Harris Administration has exhibited a troubling lack of clarity. President Biden has recklessly lent credence to illegitimate claims against Israel’s right to forcefully recover hostages. He also balked on delivery of support to Israeli defense efforts just days after Congress passed a military aid package for Israel with broad, bipartisan support, and on Wednesday after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Vice President Harris called for immediate implementation of a Biden administration ceasefire plan which would leave Hamas intact.
In March of this year,Vice President Harris publicly opposed the Israeli military moving into the city of Rafah. Strategically located as the southernmost city in Gaza, Rafah has long been known as a Hamas stronghold, and a site where hostages were likely to be kept. Such profound errors in judgement have weakened the standing of the United States in the eyes of the world and eroded trust among our allies. It is the same kind of failed leadership which made the Biden Administration’s withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan so disastrous.
