In the nearly 48 hours since the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a brutal attack on Israel, former Democratic presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama have not said a word.
As of Sunday evening, no social media account linked to either man, including the presidential library and foundation accounts, had commented on the attack that left 700 Israelis (and reportedly four Americans) dead and thousands missing and injured.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton released a statement Sunday night extending her prayers to “all people affected by Hamas’ horrific attacks in Israel.”
The Obama administration had an extremely difficult relationship with the United States’ closest ally. President Obama himself and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were not close, and there was tension over brokering the Iran nuclear deal – a passion project of Obama’s team.
Bill Clinton had a positive relationship with Israel and oversaw the signing of the peace treaty between Israel and Jordan – a former hostile neighbor.
Statements were made over the weekend by the two most recent Republican presidents, George W. Bush and Donald Trump.
Neither former president has said a word about the brutal attack carried out by Hamas terrorists over the weekend
Trump, whose administration oversaw the signing of the Abraham Accords – bilateral agreements on Arab-Israeli normalization signed by Israel, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates – called the attacks a “disgrace” and encouraged Israel to use “overwhelming force.” To defend.
In a Truth Social post on Saturday, Trump wrote: “These Hamas attacks are a disgrace and Israel has every right to defend itself with overwhelming force.” Unfortunately, American tax dollars helped fund these attacks, which, according to many reports, were carried out by the Biden administration administration.”
“We brought so much peace to the Middle East through the Abraham Accords, only to see Biden dismantle it much faster than anyone thought possible. “Here we go again.”
He later said that if he had been president, the current conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, as well as the war between Russia and Ukraine, would not have happened.
The George W. Bush Presidential Center also released a statement after the attack that unequivocally condemned Hamas’ brutal attack.
“We call on the United States and our allies to unequivocally stand with Israel, its government and its people and to support Israel’s right to defend itself against these threats,” the statement said.
“Attacks on free and democratic states everywhere are attacks on all of us, whether in Israel, Ukraine or elsewhere.”
The Carter Center, which released a statement on behalf of the fifth and last currently living former president, Jimmy Carter, 99, said: “Our hearts are heavy with grief over the tragic loss of innocent lives on all sides of the conflict.” “We demand “All parties to prioritize the protection and well-being of civilians by refraining from actions targeting residential areas.”
US President Barack Obama laughs during an official state dinner at the presidential residence in Jerusalem in 2013 –
Former US President Bill Clinton touches the flag-adorned coffin of former Israeli President Shimon Peres after eulogizing him during his funeral ceremony at Mount Herzl Cemetery in Jerusalem, Israel, in 2016
The George W. Bush Institute strongly condemns the heinous terrorist attacks on Israel that left scores of innocent civilians dead. We call on the United States and our allies to unequivocally stand with Israel, its government and its people and to support Israel’s right to self-defense…
— The George W. Bush Presidential Center (@TheBushCenter) October 7, 2023
“The Carter Center recognizes the deep historical and religious significance this region has for all involved.” The basic human rights of all residents of the region must be protected, land claims and security concerns must be addressed, and the sanctity of Muslim and Christian holy sites must be preserved. “In addition, it is critical to recognize the complex dynamics of this situation, including the ongoing occupation.”
“The urgency of a robust and renewed peace process has never been greater.” There is no military solution to the crisis, only a political one. “We call on the international community to live up to its responsibilities and reinvigorate a credible process that brings peace and security to both Israelis and Palestinians while protecting the lives of all civilians.”
Hamas’ surprise attack on Saturday morning came just a day after the 50th anniversary of the start of the Yom Kippur War, in which Israel faced existential threats from hostile neighbors led by Egypt and Syria
Israeli soldiers and civilians battled Hamas militants on the streets of southern Israel after the Palestinian terrorists fired 2,000 rockets across the border in a brutal ground attack.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately declared a state of war and has since promised “mighty revenge” against Israel’s aggressors, which would end in victory for his country.
The Israel Defense Forces have begun bombing key Hamas sites in the Gaza Strip and have warned civilians in certain regions to leave the Strip before a wave of retaliatory attacks begin.
After the attacks on Saturday morning, Hamas took dozens of Israeli civilians hostage
Fire and smoke rise over buildings in Gaza City during an Israeli airstrike on October 8, 2023. Israel, reeling from the deadliest attack on its territory in half a century, formally declared war on Hamas on Sunday as the Israeli death toll rose to over 700 after the Palestinian militant group launched a massive surprise attack from Gaza
Israelis walk past a blown-up police station in Sderot, which was destroyed in a battle with Hamas militants who had taken over the building
An Israeli soldier drives armored vehicles en route to the southern border with the Gaza Strip in Sderot, Israel, Oct. 8, 2023. The country is preparing a comprehensive counteroffensive against the terrorist organization
Israel has no choice but to meet force with force. The only democracy in the Middle East has every right to defend itself (Image: Gaza on Sunday)
In his speech on Saturday evening, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a strong warning to Hamas fighters: “I say to Hamas: you are responsible for the well-being of the prisoners. Israel will settle the score with anyone who harms them.”
He vowed to defeat the group but said the war would “take time” and continued: “What happened today has never happened before in Israel, we will take powerful revenge for this black day.”
He promised to reduce Gaza to rubble and called on innocent Palestinians to leave the Gaza Strip immediately. Hamas, he said, would pay “a price it has never known.”
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also confirmed on Sunday that several Americans – four reportedly – were believed to have been killed in the attack on Israel, and several others may have been taken hostage by Hamas terrorists.