Politicians mourn hostages, categorical outrage at Hamas and renew requires an finish to the struggle

WASHINGTON — Condolences from the White Home, members of Congress and political campaigns poured in after the Israeli Defense Forces recovered the bodies of six hostages.

Politicians from each side of the aisle mourned the deaths of the six hostages, together with American citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin. The IDF recognized the opposite hostages as Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi and Grasp Sgt. Ori Danino.

President Joe Biden mentioned in a statement that he was “devastated and outraged,” emphasizing that “Hamas leaders pays for these crimes.” Equally, Vice President Kamala Harris mentioned in a statement, “[M]ay Hersh’s reminiscence be a blessing,” invoking a phrase Jews use to mourn the lifeless.

“Hamas is an evil terrorist group,” Harris mentioned within the assertion, which was issued in her official capability as vp, not as a politician. “With these murders, Hamas has much more American blood on its fingers.”

Harris’ working mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, additionally referred to as Hamas a “brutal terrorist group” and wrote on X, “We condemn their continued atrocities towards each People and Israelis within the strongest potential phrases.”

Each Biden and Harris spoke with Goldberg-Polin’s mother and father, Rachel Goldberg and Jon Polin, on Sunday, based on the White Home and a put up by Harris on X. Nationwide safety adviser Jake Sullivan additionally held a digital assembly Sunday with households of American hostages, discussing Goldberg-Polin’s killing and diplomatic updates, based on the White Home.

Former President Donald Trump said on X that “we grieve the mindless dying of the Israeli Hostages” however positioned the blame for the deaths on the ft of Biden and Harris.

“Our Nation and our superb individuals are not protected beneath Joe Biden, and will likely be much less protected beneath Kamala Harris,” he mentioned. “This terror would have by no means occurred if I had been President, and it’ll cease the day I’m again within the Oval Workplace.”

In contrast to Trump’s, reactions from members of Congress had been largely nonpolitical, zeroing in on expressing heartbreak and outrage at Hamas, slightly than directing their ire at American politicians.

“His dying, and the homicide of the 5 different hostages recovered, reveals how brutal Hamas is and the way pressing it stays to free all of the hostages now,” Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said on X.

Democratic Home Minority Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said he was “heartbroken,” including, “Each hostage have to be launched. Deliver all of them residence.”

“I hope there’s going to be strain on Hamas and Netanyahu to finish this struggle, launch the hostages,” Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., said on NBC News‘ “Meet the Press.”

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., blamed the hostages’ deaths on Iran and urged the Biden administration and Israel to “maintain Iran accountable.”

“If you would like the hostages residence, which all of us do, you must improve the associated fee to Iran. Iran is the nice Devil. Hamas is the junior accomplice. They’re barbaric, spiritual Nazis — Hamas, they might care much less concerning the Palestinian individuals,” Graham mentioned in an interview Sunday on ABC Information’ “This Week.” 

“I’d urge the Biden administration and Israel to carry Iran accountable for the destiny of remaining hostages and placed on the goal record oil refineries in Iran if the hostages usually are not launched,” he mentioned.

He additionally criticized Harris for missing Netanyahu’s address to Congress in July, saying she had boycotted it, “sending a sign to Hamas and Iran that America does not likely have Israel’s again.” On the time, Harris was scheduled to be in Indianapolis throughout Netanyahu’s tackle together with her then-nascent presidential marketing campaign, however she met with Netanyahu privately afterward.

Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said on X that he was “heartbroken” by information of Goldberg-Polin’s dying and referred to as on Israel to “end the job.”

“Heartbroken by information of Hersh Goldberg-Polin’s dying by the hands of Hamas. The savages who killed this U.S. citizen and proceed to carry others hostage should pay a heavy value. Israel ought to end the job to finish this Iran-backed terror, and America should assist this effort with out caveat/situations,” he wrote.

Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, who chairs the Overseas Affairs Committee, wrote on X that the hostages ought to “be residence with their households” however as an alternative had been murdered.

“I’m completely heartbroken by the deaths of a number of hostages held by Hamas, together with US citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin. These harmless individuals ought to all be residence at this time with their households; as an alternative they had been murdered by terrorists. My coronary heart is with all the bereaved households, together with the Goldberg-Polin household, who I met earlier this summer time,” McCaul wrote.

Members of Congress from each side of the aisle skewered Hamas as “an organization of true evil,” as “monsters” and as “brutal, barbaric, religious Nazis.”

For months, the White Home has pushed for a cease-fire proposal that might result in the discharge of hostages. Nevertheless, negotiations haven’t confirmed profitable. As 1000’s of Israelis protested for a hostage deal within the streets of Tel Aviv on Sunday, American politicians reiterated requires hostages to be returned residence.

“Solely a ceasefire will deliver the hostages safely residence and day by day with out a deal dangers their lives, the lives of Palestinians, and each harmless life in Gaza,” Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., said on X.

World leaders additionally expressed horror and referred to as for an finish to the struggle.

French President Emmanuel Macron in said on X that he felt “shock and indignation,” emphasizing that “there have to be a direct ceasefire and the discharge of all hostages, together with our compatriots Ohad Yahalomi and Ofer Kalderon.”

“Canada stands with the victims’ households in your grief,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on X, including that Hamas will need to have “no future within the governance of Gaza.”

United Nations Secretary-Common António Guterres said on X that the information was “a devastating reminder of the necessity for the unconditional launch of all hostages and an finish to the nightmare of struggle in Gaza.”

Over 1,200 individuals had been killed in Israel and round 250 others, together with the six individuals whose our bodies had been found yesterday, had been taken hostage throughout Hamas’ terrorist assault on Oct. 7.