President Joe Biden raised eyebrows on Monday evening during the White House Hanukkah reception by claiming credit for the release of over 100 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. The statement came as Biden addressed the ongoing trauma from the October 7 terrorist attacks on Israel.
“I know this year’s Hanukkah falls on the hearts that are still very heavy. It’s the second Hanukkah since the horrors of October 7. Over 1,000 slaughtered, hundreds taken hostage, unspeakable sexual violence, and so much more. The trauma of that day and its aftermath is still raw and ongoing,” Biden said.
He then asserted, “I’ve gotten over 100 hostages out. I will not stop until I get every single one of them home.” The claim sparked controversy, as the hostage releases in Gaza have largely been facilitated through international negotiations involving Israel, Qatar, and Egypt, with limited direct involvement by the Biden administration.
Biden also reaffirmed his support for Israel, stating, “My commitment to the safety of the Jewish people and security of Israel and its right to exist as an independent nation-state remains ironclad.” He recounted a personal story of taking his grandchildren to visit Nazi concentration camps in Europe to teach them about the Holocaust, saying, “I wanted them to know that you couldn’t pretend it didn’t happen, and it should never happen again.”
Biden concluded his remarks by declaring, “You don’t have to be a Jew to be a Zionist. I’m a Zionist.”
Questions have been raised regarding the accuracy of Biden’s claim about the hostages, with some arguing that it exaggerates his administration’s role in the releases. The remarks have fueled ongoing debates over the Biden administration’s approach to the Israel-Hamas conflict and its commitment to supporting Israel during a time of crisis.
