In a press conference at Cairo Airport, U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken stressed America's unwavering support for Israel amid the ongoing crisis in the region.
According to a press briefing that was made available by the Department of State, he was quoted as saying, "We came here with four key objectives: to make clear that the United States stands with Israel; to prevent the conflict from spreading; to work on securing the release of hostages, including American citizens; and to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza."
Blinken also met with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with whom he emphasized the necessity of respecting human life while reiterating Israel's right to self-defense against Hamas. Blinken again reiterated that Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas. According to the brief provided by the Department, he is reported as adding that whatever solution is found "needs to do it in a way that affirms the shared values that we have for human life and human dignity."
The Secretary of State extended his diplomatic mission to Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt in order to obtain a better understanding of the area and address issues that are shared by all of these countries. He made the announcement that Ambassador David Satterfield would be leading the humanitarian efforts of the United States in Gaza, as President Biden had appointed him to do so. During the press availability, Blinken admitted that "he'll actually be here tomorrow to start working on those efforts," as it was mentioned in the brief from the Department of State.
Blinken claimed that we need adjust our perception of Hamas. Following his statement that "It cannot be, must not be business as usual with Hamas going forward," he continued by stating that civilians should not be the victims of the struggle. According to him, "Civilians should not have to suffer for Hamas's atrocities." [Citizens] "should not have to suffer for Hamas's atrocities." According to the summary provided by the Department of State, Blinken intends to return to Israel for more follow-up discussions.
