U.S. Reaffirms Support for Israel as American Weapons Arrive in the Mediterranean

President Joe Biden reaffirmed his “unshakeable” commitment to defending Israel on Wednesday as concerns mount over the potential for nearby countries and militant groups to take advantage of the chaotic situation and broaden the conflict.

“This attack has brought to the surface the painful memories and scars left by a millennium of anti-Semitism and genocide against the Jewish people,” Biden said, speaking from the Rose Garden.

“At this moment, we have to be crystal clear: There is no justification for terrorism,” he said. “No excuse. And the type of terrorism that has been exhibited here is just beyond the pale. Beyond the pale.”

“The United States has Israel’s back, and we are going to be working on this all through today and beyond.”

Wednesday marks the fifth day of bloodshed as Israel hammers Gaza with air strikes that have reduced neighborhoods to rubble and left rescuers struggling to find survivors as fuel supplies dwindle. And the horrors of Hamas’ Saturday attack continue to unfold, with reports of children found butchered in a kibbutz.

Israel has doubled down on its blockade of Gaza, banning food and fuel imports and cutting the electricity supply in the densely populated strip.

As it stands, at least 1,200 people have been killed in Israel, including at least 22 Americans. At least 1,055 people have died in Gaza, including many Palestinians who are not aligned with Hamas. It’s also believed that Hamas is holding captive at least 150 hostages, including a handful of Americans.

Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by phone on Tuesday and again Wednesday morning, pledging to provide “whatever it needs” to care for its citizens and respond to the attacks.

Speaking to the American people in a televised speech later on Tuesday, Biden denounced the Hamas attack, pledged support to Israel and said his administration’s highest priority is securing the safety of 17 American citizens who are considered missing.

“There are moments in this life … when the pure, unadulterated evil is unleashed on this world,” said an emotional Biden, referring to “stomach-turning reports of babies being killed, entire families slain … women raped, assaulted, paraded as trophies.”

Meanwhile, leaders of the House Foreign Affairs Committee introduced a bipartisan resolution Tuesday, with the backing of nearly 400 lawmakers, expressing support for Israel.

The resolution affirms that lawmakers back Israel and its right to defend itself, urges all countries to “unequivocally condemn Hamas’ brutal war against Israel,” and calls on Hamas to immediately end its attacks and return all hostages. It also urges enforcement of U.S. sanctions against Iran, while asserting that the U.S. “stands ready” to assist Israel with resupplying and other support.

Separately, members in both chambers are beginning work on a supplemental aid package for Israel, which may also include security funding for Jewish communities in the U.S. given the potential for antisemitic attacks at synagogues, as well as even greater sanctions for Iran based on reports it may have aided Hamas in the attack.

Biden called on Congress to make the aid funding its top priority.

“When Congress returns, we’re going to ask them to take urgent action to fund the national security requirements of our critical partners,” he said. “This is not about party or politics. It’s about the security of our world.”

Yet those efforts, which would need congressional approval from both chambers, remain in limbo until the House elects a speaker. Last week, in a stunning and unprecedented move, members ousted Rep. Kevin McCarthy from the speaker’s office, exposing the depth of the political fissure among Republicans and leaving a gaping hole in the ability of Congress to function.

House Republicans met behind closed doors on Wednesday and nominated Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana for the role. But it’s far from clear whether he’ll be able to garner the 217 votes needed to secure him as speaker, especially given the demands and policy priorities of the far-right flank of the party.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin confirmed on Wednesday that military aid began flowing into Israel on Tuesday, as well as munition and interceptors to bolster the country’s Iron Dome – the defense system that intercepts and explodes rockets mid-air to prevent them from reaching their target.

“The Department of Defense stands fully ready to deploy additional assets,” said Austin, who announced earlier this week that he ordered American military ships, including the Navy’s newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, to move closer to the eastern Mediterranean in response to the brutal attack by Hamas.

And for any country or militant group thinking about taking advantage of Israel in a moment of crisis or widening the conflict in any way, Austin had this warning: “We have just one word: Don’t.”

The warning echoes those made by President Joe Biden on Tuesday and comes as concerns mount over whether Iran or any of the militia groups it supports might seek to escalate the war and set off fighting in other parts of the Middle East – a scenario that threatens to drag the U.S. into a more complicated and chaotic situation.

Of particular concern is the northern border of Israel with Lebanon, where Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militarized Shiite group committed to the destruction of the Jewish state, confirmed that it fired a rocket into Israel in response to three of its members killed during Israel’s air strikes. Israel, in response, shelled a handful of southern Lebanese towns.

The U.S. intelligence establishment is beginning to amass intel on whether and how Iran helped Hamas plan the attack, and whether Hamas fighters may have even been trained by Iran.

Iran denied involvement, but has long supported Hamas. According to the State Department, Iran provides roughly $100 million a year to Palestinian militia groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.

U.S. intelligence and Israeli officials are also trying to piece together how and when Hamas skirted Israeli surveillance – including video and other recording devices – to facilitate their entry into Israel.

White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Tuesday that Iran was “complicit” in the attack.

“We’ve said since the beginning that Iran is complicit in a broad sense because they have provided the lion’s share of the funding for the military wing of Hamas, they’ve provided training, they have provided capabilities, they have provided support,” Sullivan said at a White House press conference. “And they’ve had engagement and contact with Hamas over years and years, and all of that has played a role in contributing to what we have seen.”

Austin spoke from Brussels, where he is representing the U.S. as one of 54 countries participating in the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and where he met with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday. He said that the U.S. is well equipped to support Israel while also continuing to aid Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia.

“The United States will remain able to project power and to direct resources to tackle crises in multiple theaters,” Austin said. “We will stand firmly with Israel as we continue to support Ukraine.”

Susan Milligan contributed to this story.