Title: Secretary of State Blinken: No Confirmation of Iranian Involvement in Recent Hamas Assault on Israel
In an exclusive interview with NBC News, Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that there is no direct evidence linking Iran to the brutal assault carried out by Hamas on Israel. While acknowledging the long-standing relationship between Iran and Hamas, Blinken emphasized that there is currently no proof of Iranian involvement in planning or executing the attack.
Blinken remarked, Hamas wouldn’t be Hamas without the support of Iran over many, many years. He further explained that the world is well aware of the complicity between Iran and Hamas, underscoring the fact that the United States has already imposed sanctions on Iran more than 400 times, including for its support of Hamas.
The Secretary of State arrived in Israel on Wednesday with the aim of providing support and solidarity to the longstanding U.S. ally following the devastating terrorist attack perpetrated by Hamas. The Biden administration faced scrutiny for its decision to unfreeze $6 billion in oil reserve funds as part of a prisoner exchange with Iran, a historical funder of Hamas. Although the White House assured that the funds would strictly be used for humanitarian purposes, none of the money has been distributed thus far.
To reinforce the commitment to Israel’s security, both the U.S. and Qatari governments have agreed to block Iran’s access to the $6 billion, as confirmed by Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo during a meeting with House Democrats.
During his visit, Blinken held discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, and various members of Israel’s cabinet. He also expressed his gratitude to U.S. embassy personnel in Israel.
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Blinken stressed the need for moral clarity and unambiguous condemnation of terrorism. He emphasized that failure to unequivocally denounce terrorism puts not only Israelis at risk but also jeopardizes people everywhere. Blinken, who has a personal connection to the conflict as a Jewish individual with family history linked to the Holocaust, conveyed President Biden’s message that the United States stands firm alongside Israel.
Reiterating the commitment to Israel’s security, Blinken assured that the U.S. has deployed its largest aircraft carrier to the eastern Mediterranean, supplied additional ammunition interceptors for Israel’s Iron Dome, and is sending further military support.
At a separate press conference, Blinken revealed the emotional impact he experienced upon witnessing graphic photographs of the aftermath of the attack, including images of dead children and beheaded soldiers. He described them as unimaginable and emphasized the need for swift international action.
In addition to his visit in Israel, Blinken made an unscheduled stop at a donation center in Tel Aviv, where he met with a survivor of the festival attack in southern Israel on Saturday.
On Friday, Blinken is scheduled to travel to Amman, Jordan, to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Jordanian King Abdullah II. Later, he plans to visit Qatar, where his discussions will focus on joint efforts between Qatar and the U.S. to secure the release of hostages and de-escalate the situation.
The recent Hamas assault on Israel resulted in the deaths of over 1,300 Israelis, including 222 soldiers, and left more than 3,300 injured. In Gaza, at least 1,400 people lost their lives, with over 6,000 others sustaining injuries.
