The Hamas group, which launched a rocket barrage
killing 1,200 Israelis on Saturday, has also taken several hostages and are
carrying out executions, claimed the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).
“There were reports that babies are being executed. It
was hard to believe that even Hamas could carry out such barbaric acts… But
after eyewitnesses came forward and senior officials gave accounts, we can now
say with relative confidence that this is what Hamas is doing,” said IDF
spokesperson Jonathan Conricus.
He claimed that women and children are being
handcuffed and executed by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, in his latest show of support for Israel,
US President Joe Biden addressed Jewish community leaders at a roundtable in the
White House and called the attacks by Hamas a “campaign of pure cruelty”.
“I never really thought that I would see and have
confirmed pictures of terrorists beheading children,” Biden said in broader
remarks about his administration’s support for Israel amid its war with Hamas
and efforts to free American hostages.
During the event at the White House, featuring a group
of around two dozen rabbis and leaders of Jewish organisations, Biden also
warned Iran to “be careful”.
“We moved the US carrier fleet to the eastern
Mediterranean and we are sending more fighter jets to that region, and made it
clear to the Iranians: Be careful,” he said, adding, “When terrorist groups
like Hamas, brought not only a sheer evil, sheer evil to the world, evil that
echoes the worst matches in some cases exceeds the worst atrocities of ISIS.”
Earlier on Wednesday, the US president spoke to
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyhu, marking the fourth known call between
the two. Biden also assured Netanyahu that United States is sending more
military assistance to help Israel fight Hamas militants.
“United States has Israel’s back and I have yours as
well – both at home and abroad,” the President said.
On Tuesday, Biden confirmed that US citizens are among
those who have been taken hostage by Hamas. The White House said on Wednesday
that 17 Americans are unaccounted.
Meanwhile, US State Department Secretary Antony
Blinken remarked, “The terrorist attacks against Israel are appalling, and the
world should be revolted at what it’s seen. As we continue to closely monitor
the situation, we sadly now know that at least 22 US citizens were killed, and
US citizens are among those being held by Hamas.”
He added, “We join families in Israel, in US, and
around the world mourning the loss of loved ones killed in Hamas’s heinous
attacks. We continue efforts to secure the release of those hostages, and US
remains steadfast and unwavering in our support for Israel.”
In a major escalation on October 7, Hamas launched a “surprise
attack” on Israel, firing a barrage of rockets into the southern and central
parts of the country.
ANI
