Blinken Says He Came to Israel Not Only as a U.S. Official but Also as a Jew

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv amid escalating tensions in the Israel-Palestine conflict, stating that he came to Israel not only as a U.S. official but also as a Jew.

“I understand the massacre perpetrated by Hamas on a personal level,” Blinken said. The Secretary of State declared that Israel has the right to defend itself, while also emphasizing the importance of how Israel conducts its defense.

Without directly mentioning it, Blinken effectively referenced the killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza by Israeli airstrikes. “We know that Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people,” Blinken continued, adding that a larger shipment of American weapons is on the way.