US President Joe Biden issued a condemnation on Tuesday Hamascalling the surprise attack carried out by a Palestinian militant group an “act of pure evil” and highlighting US support for Israel, which is mourning death of more than 1000 people.

Biden also expressed concern about Americans being held hostage by Hamas, an Iran-backed Islamist group whose stated goal he said is “to kill Jews.”

“There are times in this life, and I mean this literally, when pure and simple evil is unleashed on this world. The people of Israel experienced one of those moments this weekend,” Biden told reporters at a news conference. White House. The attacks killed at least 11 Americans and left about 20 missing.

Biden spoke of chilling reports of “parents murdered,” “babies murdered,” “entire families murdered,” and “women raped, assaulted and held up as trophies.”

He said Hamas threatened execute hostages, including survivors of the Nazi Holocaust, violating “every code of human morality.” He added that cruelty the group and its “lust for blood” are reminiscent of the Islamic State’s “worst atrocities.”

“This is terrorism, but unfortunately for Jewish town“This is not new,” Biden said, emphasizing that the incident brought to the surface memories of anti-Semitism and genocide of the Jewish people.

Clearly alluding to Iran and groups supported by the Islamic Republic such as Hezbollah In Lebanon, Biden said he had a message for any country or organization thinking of taking advantage of the situation: “I have one word: Don’t do it.”

Israel was bombed on Tuesday Gaza Strip in the worst airstrikes of the 75-year conflict with the Palestinians, leveling entire neighborhoods despite Hamas militants’ threat to execute one captive for every home attacked without warning.