During a recent interview on the CBS program “Face The Nation,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed support for Israel’s right to self-defense in its ongoing conflict with Hamas.
He emphasized the significance of Israel’s actions, stating, “No country, no country can be expected to tolerate this, to live with this.” Blinken highlighted that Israel not only has the right to defend itself but also an obligation to ensure that similar situations do not occur in the future.
Blinken further stressed the importance of how Israel conducts its military operations, particularly in protecting civilians from the crossfire initiated by Hamas. He pointed out that discussions with Israel center on both the methods employed and the desired outcomes.
He emphasized that it is essential for Israel to take every possible precaution to prevent such incidents from happening again. Allowing the situation to persist in its current state would enable Hamas to continue its actions and pose a threat in the future. Blinken stated that no country could tolerate such a situation.
In response to a statement from a Palestinian spokesperson who declared, “Enough is enough” regarding Israel’s bombings targeting Hamas, Blinken noted that the world should have taken that stance concerning Hamas two weeks earlier. He called for a unified, unequivocal global condemnation of Hamas’ actions and the tragic loss of lives they have caused.
Blinken expressed his deep concern when viewing reports, photographs, and stories about young Palestinian children being killed or injured. He emphasized that Hamas bears responsibility for these tragedies and reiterated that Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people.