Biden talks October 7 and his commitment to bring hostages home at Hanukkah reception

Speaking at his final Hanukkah reception as president, Biden on Monday evening reiterated his “ironclad” support for Israel and said he was determined to bring each of the hostages home.

“I know that this year’s Hanukkah falls on hearts that are still very heavy. This is the second Hanukkah since the horrors of October 7. More than 1,000 people massacred, hundreds taken hostage, indescribable sexual violence and much more, the trauma of that day and its aftermath are still vivid and ongoing,” President Joe Biden said.

“I have freed more than 100 hostages. I will not stop and I will bring every one of them home,” he added.

The president also denounced the “despicable rise of anti-Semitism” in the United States and around the world.

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“I have said many times before, my commitment to the security of the Jewish people and the security of Israel and its right to exist as an independent nation-state remains ironclad,” he said .

During his speech, Biden recalled taking each of his grandchildren to concentration camps in Europe so that they would understand the horrors of the Holocaust.

“I wanted them to know that you can’t pretend this didn’t happen and it should never happen again,” Biden said.

“And so I learned a long time ago that you don’t have to be Jewish to be a Zionist. I’m a Zionist,” Biden said, repeating a phrase he has used throughout his career .

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The president’s remarks Monday evening came a day after the Democratic National Committee’s holiday reception, attended by Vice President Kamala Harris.

Biden, who has just over a month left in office, spoke about his legacy and the lasting effect he wanted to leave on America. “The one thing I’ve always believed about public service, and particularly the presidency, is the importance of asking, ‘Did we leave the country better than we found it? ‘” Biden said during his speech Sunday evening. .

“Today, I can say, with (every) fiber of my being, with all my heart, that the answer to that question is a resounding “yes.” Thanks to all of you gathered here, we can be proud to leave America today in a better place than it was four years ago,” Biden said.

Biden talks October 7 and his pledge to bring hostages home during Hanukkah reception, originally appeared on abcnews.go.com