Address to the Nation
“We must, without equivocation, denounce antisemitism. We must also, without equivocation, denounce Islamophobia,” said the president during Thursday’s Oval Office speech
During President Joe Biden‘s Oval Office address on Thursday, he drew attention to Wadea Al-Fayoume, the six-year-old Palestinian-American boy who was stabbed to death in an alleged hate crime.
“His name was Wadea,” said Biden during his address to the nation. “A proud American, a proud Palestinian American family. We can’t stand by and stand silent when this happens. We must without equivocation, denounce anti-semitism. We must also, without equivocation, denounce Islamophobia. And all you hurting, I want you to know I see you. You belong. And I want to say this to you: You’re all American. You’re all American.”
After his speech, NBC News reported that Biden called the Al-Fayoume family, and that the president and the first lady expressed their condolences and reiterated their commitment to speaking out against anti-Muslim bigotry.
Earlier in his address, Biden declared the world at an “inflection point in history,” and made the case for continued U.S. involvement in Israel’s fight against Hamas and Ukraine’s battle against Russia as he prepares to ask Congress for more than $98 billion in emergency funding for both countries.
Biden traveled to Tel Aviv earlier this week to express his support for Israel in its conflict with Hamas. He blamed the “terrorist group in Gaza” for a hospital blast that reportedly killed hundreds of Palestinians on Tuesday, citing Department of Defense data.
Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7, killing at least 1,400 Israelis. Israel has responded with a barrage of attacks against Palestine while cutting off basic utilities to millions of residents. Authorities in Gaza said on Wednesday that just under 3,500 Palestinians have been killed since the war broke out less than two weeks ago.