Today in Florida flags fly at a half-staff in honor of the victims of the terrorist strike against Israel.

Today until sunset, our state Capitol remains lit with lights of blue and white.

And today, tomorrow and through the fight that has followed the heinous holiday attack by Hamas terrorists upon both the State of Israel and the Jewish people, we stand with Israel.

Not because we don’t understand that among the innocent lives lost are Israeli and Palestinian victims alike.

Not because we don’t know that war and all of its repercussions will cause more suffering.

But because Israel has the right to exist.

No matter the belief of those who hope to drive her into the sea, to stamp out her people.

No matter the belief of extremists who write political policy with blood.

No matter the pablum of justification being espoused by those who fail to understand the history of our ally and those who stand against her.

In the wake of this “act of sheer evil” launched on the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah, in the wake of the carnage and the kidnapping of non-combatants and children, President Biden has summed our country’s proper position well:

“This is terrorism.

“But sadly, for the Jewish people, it’s not new.

“This attack has brought to the surface painful memories and the scars left by a millennia of antisemitism and genocide of the Jewish people.

“So, in this moment, we must be crystal clear: We stand with Israel. We stand with Israel. And we will make sure Israel has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself, and respond to this attack.

“There is no justification for terrorism. There is no excuse.

“Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian people’s right to dignity and self-determination. Its stated purpose is the annihilation of the State of Israel and the murder of Jewish people.”

United we stand, President Biden said.

“Today, Americans across the country are praying for all those families that have been ripped apart. A lot of us know how it feels. It leaves a black hole in your chest when you lose family, feeling like you’re being sucked in. The anger, the pain, the sense of hopelessness.

“This is what they mean by a ‘human tragedy’ — an atrocity on an appalling scale.

“But we’re going to… continue to stand united, supporting the people of Israel who are suffering unspeakable losses and opposing the hatred and violence of terrorism.”

And lastly:

“This is a moment for the United States to come together, to grieve with those who are mourning.

“Let’s be real clear: There is no place for hate in America — not against Jews, not against Muslims, not against anybody. We reject — we reject — what we reject is terrorism. We condemn the indiscriminate evil, just as we’ve always done.

“That’s what America stands for.”

This is what America stands for.

– Breeze editorial