Blinken emphasizes deep commitment of the United States to Israel

(Patria) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken underscored the „deep commitment“ of the United States to Israel's right to defend itself after talks with top officials in Tel Aviv, the BBC reported.

During his second visit to Israel since the deadly Hamas attacks, Blinken met with
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He reaffirmed U.S. support and their
readiness to assist the country, the State Department announced.

„You know our deep commitment to Israel's right, indeed, its obligation to defend itself and defend its people,“ Blinken said.

Appearing in a photo with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, the top
American diplomat added: „You always have the support of the United States.“

Blinken also discussed with Netanyahu U.S. coordination with the UN and regional partners on humanitarian aid, the State Department said.

Air raid sirens sounded at one point during their meeting, and Blinken and
Netanyahu took shelter in a bunker for five minutes before continuing talks in
the defense ministry's command center, Reuters reported.

The visit comes as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza reaches a critical point with water, food, and medical supplies running out. More than 2,700 Palestinians have been killed and 9,700 wounded in Gaza. At least 30 Americans are among the dead, while 13 are still listed as missing, according to the latest data from the U.S. State Department. The missing are believed to have been abducted by Hamas, and Blinken discussed with Netanyahu how they could secure the release of nearly 200 people.

Last week, Blinken held meetings in Tel Aviv before making several other visits in the region, including Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

During his tour of Arab countries, Blinken pledged support for the Israeli government, while arguing that Israel must affirm „shared values for human life and human dignity.“