US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reached Israel and assured Israel that it would never have to stand alone in its defense as long as the United States exists. Blinken arrived in Israel following a devastating attack by Hamas on southern Israel, which resulted in the loss of over 1,300 lives, predominantly civilians. The Secretary expressed his horror at the tragedy, drawing parallels to the Holocaust and his family’s own experiences during the Nazi era. He emphasized that he was actively working to prevent the Israel-Hamas conflict from escalating further.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who hosted Blinken, expressed gratitude for the Secretary’s visit, calling it a concrete manifestation of America’s unwavering support for Israel. Blinken, who is of Jewish descent, shared personal stories of his grandfather fleeing Russian pogroms and his stepfather surviving Nazi concentration camps. He stated that these experiences make the atrocities committed by Hamas all the more horrifying for Jews in Israel and around the world.
Blinken also spoke as a father, saying that the images of families killed in the conflict, such as a family of five who lost their lives in Kibbutz Nir Oz, were deeply unsettling. He condemned Hamas’s acts of terror, likening them to the brutality of ISIS. He praised the courage of Israeli citizens, citing instances of individual heroism, such as a grandfather who drove to a besieged kibbutz armed only with a pistol to rescue his family.
The Secretary lauded the solidarity among Israelis, mentioning the numerous people donating blood and opening their homes to those displaced by the conflict. He reiterated America’s commitment to Israel, stating that while Israel might be strong enough to defend itself, it would never have to do so alone as long as America exists. Blinken also welcomed the formation of Israel’s new national emergency government and assured that the US would continue to supply Israel with military support, including ammunition for the Iron Dome.
Blinken issued a stern warning to any entities contemplating taking advantage of the crisis to attack Israel, stating unequivocally that the United States has Israel’s back. He informed that the US has already deployed the world’s largest aircraft carrier to the Eastern Mediterranean and has bolstered its fighter aircraft presence in the region.
The Secretary criticized world leaders who have been ambiguous in their stance on terrorist attacks against Israel. He called for moral clarity, stating that failing to condemn terrorism puts people everywhere at risk. He emphasized that Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people and is solely focused on the destruction of Israel.
