From the Liveblog of
Thursday, January 4, 2024
Visiting ex-VP Pence: Americans continue to support Israel even as international community falters
SDEROT — Former US vice president Mike Pence visits war-battered southern Israel to express support for the country in its war against Hamas.
Standing next to the ruins of a police station in the city of Sderot, home to a fierce battle between Hamas terrorists and police officers on October 7, Pence says the United States stands with Israel, which is under international pressure to end its ground and air campaign in Gaza. Next week, the UN’s top court is expected to begin examining a South African case accusing Israel of genocide.
“The world community always seems to find its way eventually to criticizing Israel, particularly in places like the United Nations, “ Pence says. “And in this dark hour, I wanted to do my part to make sure the people of Israel know that the people of the United States are with you and that we will stand with you.”
Heartbreaking to be at Kfar Aza, a kibbutz in southern Israel near the Gaza border to meet with family members of innocent Israelis murdered or taken hostage by Hamas on October 7th. Hamas perpetrated unspeakable acts of evil that day and Israel has no choice but to hunt down and… pic.twitter.com/ZfVBVybBIf
— Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) January 4, 2024
Asked about next week’s International Court of Justice hearing against Israel’s alleged “genocide in Gaza,” Pence said: “Israel and the United States should denounce any action to use the International Court of Justice or the United Nations to equate the unprovoked genocidal attack of Hamas on the Jewish people with Israel’s actions in self-defense,” he said.
Pence, who served under former US president Donald Trump, is a longtime supporter of Israel. He dropped out of the 2024 presidential race in October after struggling to raise money and gain traction in the polls.
