US Secretary of State Antony Blinken Reaffirms Support for Israel During Visit
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to Israel on Thursday to assure the country of the unwavering support of the United States. In a joint appearance with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, Blinken condemned Hamas for its brutal and inhumane acts, comparing them to the worst actions of ISIS. He stated, “The message that I bring to Israel is this: you may be strong enough on your own to defend yourself, but as long as America exists, you will never, ever have to. We will always be there by your side.”
Blinken’s visit to Israel comes shortly after Hamas’ deadly attacks and reflects the Biden administration’s commitment to strengthening Israel’s defenses and preventing the conflict from escalating.
Furthermore, the visit aims to assist in securing the release of hostages, including American citizens, held by Hamas. The death toll from both Hamas’ attacks and Israeli strikes in Gaza continues to rise.
After leaving Tel Aviv, Blinken will continue his trip by visiting Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates.
In each of these destinations, Blinken will emphasize the importance of preventing the conflict from spreading and urge countries to use their influence with Hamas to secure the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages. Blinken stated during a press conference, “Across each of these engagements, we’ll continue pressing countries to help prevent the conflict from spreading and to use their leverage with Hamas to immediately and unconditionally release the hostages.”
The White House has reported that a “handful” of the 14 missing Americans are believed to be held captive. Tragically, at least 27 Americans have lost their lives due to the recent Hamas attacks.
During his visit to Israel, Blinken met with the families of Americans who were killed or taken hostage by Hamas. He assured them that every possible effort is being made to secure the release of the hostages through close cooperation with Israeli authorities.
During his public speeches in Israel, Blinken strongly condemned and expressed his horror at the brutality of the attacks carried out by Hamas.
Blinken mentioned that the Israeli government provided him with graphic photos and videos that depicted the horrific atrocities committed by Hamas. He stated, “babies slaughtered, bodies desecrated, young people burned alive, women raped, parents executed in front of their children, children in front of their parents.”
Struggling to find the appropriate words, Blinken expressed the difficulty of comprehending and witnessing such horrific acts during a press conference in Israel. He stated, “It’s hard to find the right words. It’s beyond what anyone would ever want to imagine, much less actually see.”
Blinken, who identifies as both a father and Jew, emphasized the personal resonance and empathy he feels towards the victims of these attacks.
Although Blinken did not explicitly call for restraint from Israeli forces, he did have discussions with Israeli officials about the necessity of taking every possible precaution to protect civilian lives.
Blinken asserted that no country can tolerate the senseless killing of its citizens and emphasized Israel’s right and duty to defend itself and prevent such tragedies from recurring. He stated, “No country can or would tolerate the slaughter of its citizens or simply return to the conditions that allowed it to take place. Israel has the right, indeed the obligation, to defend itself and to ensure that this never happens again.”
Furthermore, Blinken emphasized that Hamas does not speak for the Palestinian people.
During the press conference, Blinken discussed the ongoing conversations and efforts to explore options for the safe passage of civilians who wish to leave or find refuge away from the conflict in Gaza. These discussions will continue in the coming days, including with some of the countries he will be visiting.
During an unannounced visit to a donation site in Tel Aviv, Blinken met with Lior Gelbaum, a survivor of the recent music festival massacre and an Israeli-American. Gelbaum emotionally expressed his concern for friends and family who are currently in Gaza, to which Blinken replied, “If there’s any way to help, first priority, first priority are our friends and family that are now in Gaza. We’re thinking of them and we’re trying to do everything we can. We’re trying to bring them home.”
During his joint remarks with Netanyahu, Blinken reiterated President Biden’s firm warning to any state or non-state adversary considering taking advantage of the current crisis to attack Israel, stating, “Don’t.”
He also announced that Israel has already received some military support and assured that more assistance is on the way.
Blinken underscored that the United States will collaborate with Congress to address Israel’s evolving defense needs. He emphasized the overwhelming bipartisan support in Congress for ensuring Israel’s security.
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