Secretary of State Antony Blinken is currently in Israel on a diplomatic mission to prevent the war in Israel from breaking out into a wider conflict and to attempt a negotiation for American hostages. During a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Blinken touched on his family history.
“I come before you not only as the United States Secretary of State but also as a Jew,” Blinken told Bibi during a joint press conference.
Watch the clip below:
Antony Blinken speaks in Israel: "I come before you not only as the United States secretary of state, but also as a Jew." https://t.co/UI4tJpQPet pic.twitter.com/9TCV6L8m4b
— CNN (@CNN) October 12, 2023
Before arriving in Israel, Blinken assured Israel that America is in its corner.
“I’m going with a very simple and clear message … that the United States has Israel’s back,” Blinken told reporters before boarding a plane bound for Israel.
From Newsmax:
He will work with regional U.S. allies to try to secure the release of more than 100 people that Israel says Hamas holds captive, some of whom may be American citizens. The top U.S. diplomat, Blinken flew out as Israel was forming an emergency unity government. The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Hamas gunmen rampaged through Israeli towns over the weekend, killing 1,200 people and taking scores of hostages to Gaza.
At least 22 Americans were killed during the attack, Blinken said.
“That number could still go up, and it probably will,” Blinken said, adding that U.S. officials were working with Israeli counterparts to determine the fates of other U.S. citizens who remained unaccounted for. Israel has retaliated with air strikes that have killed more than 1,100 people, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The Israeli military said its troops had killed at least 1,000 Palestinian gunmen who infiltrated from Gaza.
US Sec of State @SecBlinken arrives in Tel Aviv in show of solidarity after unprecedented Hamas attack.
Blinken said: “We have their back today, we will have it tomorrow. We will have it every day.” He will head to Jordan after meetings in Israel pic.twitter.com/NJupWWBD0R
— IRIA (@IRIA_Research) October 12, 2023
