President Joe Biden is set to visit Israel on Wednesday to demonstrate America's commitment to Israel's security, while the planned summit between Biden and Arab leaders in Amman, Jordan, was called off after Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas withdrew in protest of the attacks. The U.S. and Israel have agreed to develop a plan to enable humanitarian aid from donor nations to reach the Palestinians in Gaza, in the wake of a deadly explosion at a Gaza hospital.
Posts tagged as “Anthony Blinken”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken is engaging in Middle East diplomacy to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and to protect civilians in the Gaza Strip and Israel. He has met with Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and is now in the United Arab Emirates, speaking with world leaders and the United Nations Secretary-General to find a lasting solution to the conflict.
Secretary of State Blinken has stated there is no direct evidence linking Iran to the attack on Israel by Hamas, however the U.S. has levied sanctions on Iranian individuals and companies over 400 times since President Biden came into office. The $6 billion in Iranian oil assets that were freed up as part of the U.S.-Iran prisoner swap are now frozen, and the U.S. is continuing to investigate the role Iran may have played in the attack.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and King Abdullah II of Jordan discussed the "horrific Hamas terrorist attacks" and the "devastating impact" of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, which has resulted in at least 2,700 deaths and thousands of injuries. Blinken has been meeting with Israeli officials and those affected by the violence, and is now working with King Abdullah II to find a peaceful solution to the conflict.
Republican presidential candidates have accused the Biden administration of being weak on terrorism and partly responsible for the recent attacks by Hamas against Israel, citing the unfreezing of $6 billion in oil revenue as part of a prisoner exchange with Iran. Secretary Blinken has denied the accusations and defended the administration's foreign policy, calling for a de-escalation of tensions and a return to a path towards peace.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken has confirmed reports that several Americans may have been killed in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, as well as reports of possible U.S. hostages. The U.S. is actively working to verify these reports and is calling for a ceasefire and for both sides to return to the negotiating table in order to de-escalate the conflict.
The United States has expressed deep concern over allegations made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that India was involved in the June 18 murder of Sikh activist and leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called for both Canada and India to work together to investigate the possible involvement of New Delhi agents in the murder, and the Indian government has denied the allegations. The U.S. is also calling for a full and transparent investigation into the matter.
At least 16 people, including one child, were killed in a missile attack in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kostiantynivka. U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken arrived in Kyiv on an unannounced visit to assess Ukraine's counteroffensive and signal continued U.S. support for Kyiv's efforts. Blinken and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the ongoing Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine and called on Russia to immediately cease its aggression and withdraw its forces from Ukraine.