Secretary of State Antony Blinken joined Face the Nation to discuss the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the U.S.’s support for Israel in its conflict with Hamas. Blinken highlighted President Biden’s commitment to defending Israel while also emphasizing the importance of protecting civilians and ensuring humanitarian assistance reaches those in need. The U.S. has expressed concerns about potential violations of international humanitarian law by Israel in certain instances, particularly regarding civilian casualties.
Blinken acknowledged the complexity of the military environment in Gaza, where Hamas operates in civilian areas, making it difficult to determine the exact circumstances of each incident. Despite ongoing investigations and assessments, the U.S. has not definitively concluded that Israel has violated U.S. laws or weapons sharing agreements. The focus remains on ensuring that Israel has a clear plan to protect civilians and address the aftermath of the conflict in a sustainable manner.
The discussion also touched on the delivery of weapons to Israel, with questions raised about the potential impact of certain weapons, such as high payload bombs, in densely populated areas like Rafah. While the U.S. has delayed the delivery of these bombs and is in active conversation with Israel about their use, no other weapons have been paused or withheld. The U.S. is urging Israel to develop credible plans for security, governance, and rebuilding after the conflict to prevent a return to chaos or Hamas rule in Gaza.
In response to questions about civilian casualties, Blinken confirmed that the U.S. shares Israel’s assessment that more civilians than terrorists have been killed in the conflict. He noted the challenges of minimizing civilian harm in a complex wartime setting and emphasized the need for consistent and effective mitigation efforts. The U.S. is conducting ongoing investigations to determine the extent to which international humanitarian law may have been violated.
Shifting focus to Ukraine, Blinken addressed Russia’s recent actions and the U.S.’s efforts to provide support to Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression. He acknowledged the cost of delays in delivering assistance to Ukraine but expressed confidence in Ukraine’s ability to defend itself and resist Russian advances. Blinken emphasized the continued support of the U.S. and over 50 countries for Ukraine, rejecting Putin’s belief that Ukraine and its allies can be outlasted. Despite challenges, the U.S. remains committed to standing with Ukraine against Russian aggression.
