US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has revealed that Americans may also have been taken hostage in the surprise assaults launched by Hamas militants on Israel. The attacks, carried out by approximately 1,000 Hamas fighters, have caused significant devastation.
Speaking on ABC’s ‘This Week’, Antony Blinken acknowledged the close relationship between the US and Israeli intelligence but stressed that the priority was to deal with the aggression from Hamas. He described the attacks as a “massive terrorist attack” targeting Israeli civilians in their towns and homes, including a crowded music festival.
Antony Blinken emphasized the need for a collective response to the situation and urged the world to be “revolted” by the violence. He engaged in diplomatic efforts by speaking with counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates, encouraging their continued engagement in efforts to halt the attacks by Hamas and secure the release of hostages.
Regarding Iran’s involvement, Blinken acknowledged that Hamas has received support from Iran over the years but stated that there is no evidence linking Iran to this particular attack.
He also suggested a motive behind the attacks, linking them to opposition against efforts to normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, as well as Israel’s relations with countries in the region and beyond. Blinken noted that Hezbollah, Hamas, and Iran are the key opponents of these normalization efforts, suggesting a motive behind the attacks. “So to the extent that this was designed to try to derail the efforts that were being made, that speaks volumes,” he remarked.
The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting behind closed doors Sunday but took no immediate action on a demand from the United States that all 15 members strongly condemn “these heinous terrorist attacks committed by Hamas.
Read Now:GST Council Decides on Corporate Guarantees, Molasses Tax, and More
