New US Ambassador to Israel: Washington's Priority is the Freedom of Hamas Hostages

Isaac Herzog, the President of Israel, received the credentials of the new US ambassador to Israel on Sunday, November 5, emphasizing the strong ties between the two countries during wartime. Jacob (Jack) Lew stated that during his visit he met with the families of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas and stressed that the freedom of all hostages is the primary priority of the United States. Lew said, "As President Biden has deeply stated, Israel has the right and indeed the responsibility to defend itself and its people in a way that reflects our shared values." Isaac Herzog thanked Lew and said he "speaks on behalf of all Israelis who say: America’s friendship has never been as evident or more valuable as it is now." In his confirmation hearing as the new US ambassador in Congress, Lew committed to standing with Israeli leaders in response to Hamas's October 7 attack and told senators, "At this moment, there is no greater mission than to strengthen the relationship between the United States and the State of Israel." John Kirby, spokesperson for the US National Security Council, after Lew's confirmation, said the US government looks forward to him "going to Israel and leading our efforts to support Israel and their fight against Hamas" while also assisting us in coordinating efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. Lew, who played a role in the negotiations of the nuclear agreement (JCPOA) between the Obama administration and the Islamic Republic, described the Islamic Republic as evil and destructive during his confirmation hearing, stating: "Let me be clear. The Islamic Republic is a threat to regional security and the existence of Israel." Iranian-backed Hamas militants killed at least 1,400 people in their missile attacks on Israel on October 7 and took more than 240 hostages by storming southern Israel. The United States, Canada, the European Union, Japan, Israel, and several other countries have classified Hamas as a terrorist organization. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated on Sunday during a visit to his country's air force base that Israel will not agree to a ceasefire in Gaza unless the terrorist group Hamas releases the hostages it holds. He said: "Remove this [the word 'ceasefire'] from the vocabulary. We say this to both our enemies and our friends. We will continue until we defeat them. We have no other option." Netanyahu rejected a US request for a temporary halt to attacks against Hamas to facilitate the release of more than 240 hostages taken by this terrorist group, emphasizing that Israel will not stop its attacks unless Hamas first releases the hostages. Although the Biden administration has called for a temporary halt to the war to advance negotiations in Qatar with Hamas and Israel for the release of hostages, it opposes a ceasefire. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Saturday in Amman, the capital of Jordan, at a press conference with the foreign ministers of Jordan and Egypt, along with the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar: "A ceasefire right now would only allow Hamas to survive, regroup, and repeat what it did on October 7." He added, "No nation, none of us will accept such a thing... Therefore, it is important to reaffirm Israel's right and duty to defend itself."