12 October 2023; MEMO: The White House retracted statements by President Joe Biden in which he expressed his dismay at what he described as violent images of an attack by fighters from the Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades on Israeli children.
Biden said during his meeting with leaders of the Jewish community at the White House: “I never really thought that I would see and have confirmed pictures of terrorists beheading children.”
The Washington Post quoted a White House spokesman as saying that neither President Biden nor any US official has independently seen any photos or verified reports on this. The spokesman added that Biden’s statements regarding the alleged atrocities were based on allegations by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s spokesman and Israeli media reports.
Hamas, however, has confirmed in a statement that the Palestinian resistance does not target children and called on the Western media to be accurate in its reporting.
The American president also said that he informed Netanyahu of the need for Israel to adhere to the rules of war, stressing at the same time his country’s commitment to Israel’s security. Adding that if the US was experiencing the surprise attack Israel is facing, its response would be “swift, decisive, and overwhelming.”
Biden also announced his readiness to meet all of Israel’s military needs “to defend its cities and its citizens”, including providing ammunition and interceptors for the Iron Dome.
