Hamas is preventing Americans and other foreign nationals from leaving the Gaza Strip, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday.
“The ball is in Hamas’s court in terms of allowing people who want to leave: civilians from third countries, including Americans,” Blinken told CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
Asked if Hamas was preventing Americans from leaving Gaza, the top American diplomat responded: “That is correct.
“We have American personnel across the border in Egypt, consular personnel,” he said, declining to directly specify whether there are American personnel currently in Gaza.
Blinken declined to say whether Hamas had taken American hostages or whether other terrorist groups in the Gaza Strip, such as Palestinian Islamic Jihad, had any of them.
President Biden spoke by phone Saturday with freed Americans Judith Raanan, 59, and her daughter Natalie, 17, who were recently freed from captivity in Gaza.
Israel is expected to imminently mount a ground invasion of Gaza.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken strongly supported Israel and its right to defend itself against Hamas. CBS News An Israeli soldier patrols a road between Sderot and the Gaza Strip. HANNIBAL HANSCHKE/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund has called for a temporary ceasefire to allow time for humanitarian support to reach the property-stricken Gaza Strip.
Blinken stopped short of calling for that publicly, but suggested that Israel has a history of relenting on its military bombing to make room for humanitarian assistance.
“We’ve seen, first of all, in order to receive assistance, that has happened,” he said. “We want to make sure that we have a sustained delivery of food, medicine, water and things that people need.
“At the same time… we have to remember that Israel has to do everything it can to make sure this doesn’t happen again,” he said of the heinous Hamas attack earlier this month. “Freezing things where they are now would allow Hamas to stay where it is and repeat what it has done.”
A Palestinian describes some of the damage caused by an Israeli attack. Ahmed Zakot/SOPA Images/Shutterstock
The Hamas-controlled Palestinian Health Ministry claims that at least 1,524 Palestinian children have died in the conflict so far. U.S. officials have questioned the reliability of Hamas casualty estimates.
“When I see the photographs of young children who have lost their lives in this conflict created by Hamas, whoever they are, wherever they are, whether they are Palestinian, whether they are Israeli, whether they are Jewish, or Muslim, it hits me… right in the middle. the heart,” Blinken said.
Moderator Margaret Brennan also pressed Blinken about an interview CBS conducted with Palestinian activist Mustafa Barghouti, who wanted President Biden to say, “Enough is enough” regarding Israel’s retaliation.
“’Enough is enough’ should have been the case for Hamas two weeks ago. “It would be nice to hear the entire world speak clearly and with one voice about Hamas’s actions,” Blinken said.
Former American hostages Natalie Shoshana Raanan (in gray jacket) and her mother Judith Tai Raanan were released by Hamas at an undisclosed location. Government of Israel/AFP via Getty Images
Blinken juxtaposed Hamas’ vision of “death, destruction, nihilism and darkness” with the US-backed vision of Israelis and Palestinians “working together, going to school together, doing business together.” [and] travel to the other’s country.”
Hamas launched its surprise attack on October 7 against Israel, which declared war in response.
So far, more than 1,400 Israelis have been massacred in the war and at least 31 Americans have been killed, and about a dozen are missing, including some who are being held hostage.
President Biden has been pushing for a supplemental aid package to help Israel.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn