President Joe Biden and Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance commemorated the victims of terror group Hamas’ 2023 attack on Israel Monday, both aware that the ongoing war Hamas incited and the political response in the U.S. potentially could sway the presidential election this November.
On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas penetrated Israeli defenses on the border with the Gaza strip, a territory the group rules with an iron fist, and murdered 1,191 unsuspecting Israelis, Americans and others, gang raped numerous women, and also took more than 200 hostages including Americans.
Biden appeared Tuesday beside a rabbi who prayed for the victims. Although Biden himself did not speak, his office issued a statement that emphasized the “brutality” of Hamas’ attack and accompanying rise in antisemitism, but also expressed sympathy for Palestinians caught in the resulting war between Israel and Hamas. The office of Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, put out a similar statement.
Biden’s mentions of the Palestinians may be a nod to his progressive base, which has grown increasingly hostile to Israel. Over the past year, students at wealthy colleges have launched disruptive protests against Israel and their own universities, accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of responding too forcefully to the attacks. The students, some accused of calling for the extermination of Jews, sparked congressional investigations into antisemitism on campuses, which led to the resignations of the presidents of Columbia University, the University of Pennsylvania and others.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his running mate, Ohio U.S. Sen. Vance, have sought to capitalize on divisions within the Democratic party and public hostility to perceived antisemitism among more radical Democrats.
Speaking at a rally in support of Israel Monday in Washington, D.C., Vance said that “today, in the United States, there are literal pro-Hamas protesters around the country.” He accused Biden of failing to make an effort to rescue the hostages still held in Gaza. Vance also mentioned the college protesters and argued that the accreditation of universities that harass Jewish students should be revoked.
A recent poll by Pew research shows major differences among the parties, with 50% of Democrats now saying that Israel’s response to the attacks has gone too far, compared with only 13% of Republicans. Notably, the poll also shows increasing shares among Americans of all political persuasion who feel the United States should assume a major role in ending the war.
Most polls now show a tight presidential race between Trump and Harris.
