In Israel for the first time since the Hamas assault against Israel on Saturday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday reiterated US support for Israel and for its right to self-defense, calling them “ironclad.”
Blinken called on the international community to condemn the atrocities committed by Hamas, saying, “Hamas has only one agenda: To destroy Israel and to murder Jews.”
The visit by Blinken comes two days after the US aircraft carrier Gerald Ford reached the Mediterranean Sea and the first shipment of US-supplied military equipment arrived in Israel.
Blinken touched down at the Ben Gurion airport at noon for a visit expected to last only a few hours. Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen received him. Shortly after landing, Blinken posted to X, “I’m in Israel today to make one thing clear: The United States stands with Israel and its people, and we will always stand — resolutely — against terrorism.”