In the wake of the deadly terror attack, attitudes toward Israel reflect a stark division between the camps of freedom and authoritarianism.
The horrific Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on Oct. 7 has been called the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust. The United States has stood firm in its support of Israel’s right to defend itself against the terrorist organization, while China has accused Israel of a “disproportional response” in fighting back at Hamas. Those very different stances toward Israel reflect a stark divide between the camps of freedom and authoritarianism in the world today.
The Hamas attack killed at least 1,400 Israelis. Eylon Levy, a former spokesperson for Israeli President Isaac Herzog, said, “It’s no exaggeration to say yesterday was the darkest day in Jewish history since the end of the Holocaust.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Oct. 7 “the most horrible day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust.” Lazar Berman, The Times of Israel’s diplomatic correspondent, made the same reference, saying, “October 7, 2023 saw the most Jews slaughtered in a single day since the Holocaust.”
The United States quickly came to Israel’s defense. Speaking on Oct. 10, President Joe Biden called the attack “sheer evil” and said, “Let there be no doubt: The United States has Israel’s back.”
On Oct. 20, President Biden delivered a national address saying: “We’re going to make sure Iron Dome continues to guard the skies over Israel. We’re going to make sure other hostile actors in the region know that Israel is stronger than ever and prevent this conflict from spreading.”
Following the Hamas attack on Israel, the United States sent warships and aircraft to the Middle East. The U.S. aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and its strike group have arrived in the eastern Mediterranean, and the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group is also on its way there. In addition, dozens of aircraft have been dispatched to U.S. military bases throughout the Middle East, and U.S. special forces are cooperating with the Israeli military in intelligence sharing and gathering.
The United States has also increased additional military aid to Israel, including ammunition and interceptors to supplement Israel’s air defense system, Iron Dome. As of Oct. 24, five shipments of U.S. weapons and equipment had arrived in Israel. The United States has also expressed support for Israel’s plan for a ground operation in Gaza to eradicate Hamas.
By Jenny Li and Michael Zhuang
