Blinken to visit Israel after Hamas attacks

2023-10-10 22:02:33, Kosova & Bota CNA

Blinken to visit Israel after Hamas attacks

Antony Blinken

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Israel on an emergency mission to show US support following attacks by Palestinian Hamas militants on Israel, the US State Department announced.

According to DASH, Blinken will visit Israel in the coming days to send a message of US solidarity and support for Israel.

He will also talk about "additional resources that we can give", DASH said.

The announcement came as US President Joe Biden condemned the Palestinian militant group Hamas' attacks on Israel as "evil", and said Washington was ready to deploy more military assets to the region.

The Palestinian militant group has committed atrocities including killing entire families and raping women, but there are "horrendous reports of killing babies," Biden said from the White House.

"This is an act of pure evil," said the American leader.

Biden confirmed that at least 14 Americans have been killed and another number taken hostage by Hamas, which has threatened to kill the hostages if Israel does not warn civilians before attacking Gaza.

Biden said the US will support Israel "today, tomorrow, as we always have." He warned any enemies of Israel not to try to engage in violence, which appears to be a message to Iran, which supports Hamas.

The US President's address came after he and Vice President Kamala Harris had a one and a half hour conversation with Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, about "support for Israel".

After Hamas launched a surprise attack on October 7, the US sent new military aid to Israel, and also ordered the largest aircraft carrier to be deployed near Israel.

Biden said he is willing to send "additional assets" if necessary to show Washington's support for its allies and to increase the US presence in the tension-ridden region.

"The United States is ready to increase military presence in the region and increase deterrence," Biden said, referring to the deployment of the aircraft carrier to the eastern Mediterranean. "We are ready to send additional assets."

Since the surprise attack by Hamas, nearly 2,000 people have been killed in Israel and Gaza./ REL