Politicians mourn hostages, express outrage at Hamas and renew calls for an end to the war
Condolences from the White House, members of Congress and political campaigns poured in during the aftermath of the Israeli Defense Forces recovering the bodies of six hostages.
WASHINGTON — Condolences from the White House, members of Congress and political campaigns poured in after the Israeli Defense Forces recovered the bodies of six hostages.
Politicians from both sides of the aisle mourned the deaths of the six hostages, including American citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin. The IDF identified the other hostages as Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi and Master Sgt. Ori Danino.
President Joe Biden said in a statement that he was "devastated and outraged," emphasizing that "Hamas leaders will pay for these crimes." Similarly, Vice President Kamala Harris said in a statement, "[M]ay Hersh’s memory be a blessing," invoking a phrase Jews use to mourn the dead.
"Hamas is an evil terrorist organization," Harris said in the statement, which was issued in her official capacity as vice president, not as a political candidate. "With these murders, Hamas has even more American blood on its hands."
Harris' running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, also called Hamas a "brutal terrorist organization" and wrote on X, "We condemn their continued atrocities against both Americans and Israelis in the strongest possible terms."
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