New Delhi: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday said that the US will never falter from its support for Israel in its determination to “defend its people, defend its country” as he condemned Hamas’ “litany of brutality and inhumanity” as evoking “the worst of ISIS.”
However, Blinken also urged Israel to show restraint in its retaliation, asking that it take “every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians” as the Israeli military prepares for a “next stage” of the war against Hamas militants in Gaza.
“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,” Blinken told reporters while speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv.
VIDEO | “The message that I bring is that Israel might be strong enough to defend itself but as long as America (US) exists, we will always be by your side,” says US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Tel Aviv.#IsraelHamasConflict pic.twitter.com/90WrHmPnh1
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 12, 2023
Blinken also reiterated that respect for civilian life is what distinguishes democracies from the likes of Hamas, saying, “As the Prime Minister and I discussed, how Israel does this matters.”
The top US diplomat’s visit to Israel is another show of support as the Biden administration seeks to stop the conflict from expanding or spreading.
“This was just one of Hamas’ countless acts of terror. It brings to mind the worst of ISIS,” he said, referring to the Islamic State terror group.
The conflict began on Saturday morning after Hamas, in a surprise assault, fired 5,000 rockets into Israel and initiated a coordinated attack on the Jewish state from air, land, and sea. In response, Israel declared war on Hamas and has been bombarding Gaza since then.
Thousands of people on both sides have died — most of them civilians.
“The message I bring to Israel is this, you may be strong enough to defend yourself but as long as America exists, you will never, ever have to, we will always be there by your side,” he said.
He said the US has started delivering arms and ammunition to Israel. “Shipments of military support have already arrived in Israel and more is on the way. As Israel’s defence needs evolve, we’ll work with Congress to make sure they’re met.”
Stressing that Hamas doesn’t represent Palestine, Blinken said, “We know Hamas doesn’t represent the Palestinian people or legitimate aspirations to live with equal measures of security, freedom, justice, opportunity, and dignity.
“Hamas has only one agenda, to destroy Israel and murder Jews. 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 or the obligation to defend itself and ensure it never happens again,” he said.
“We democracies distinguish ourselves from terrorists for striving for a different standard, even when it’s difficult, and holding ourselves to account when we fall short..”.
“The value we place on human life and human dignity, that’s what makes us who we are and we count them among our greatest strengths. That’s why it’s so important to take every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians and that’s why we mourn the loss of every innocent life, civilians of every faith, every nationality who have been killed,” Blinken added.
