US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told CBS’ “Face the Nation” in an interview on Sunday that the US talks with Israel on a ground incursion in the Gaza Strip are focused on the need to minimize harming of innocent civilians.
Blinken was responding to a question from the interviewer, Margaret Brennan, who asked him why President Joe Biden didn’t tell Israel “enough is enough” with its retaliation in the Gaza Strip and why the US is encouraging a ground invasion.
“’Enough is enough’ should have been the case with Hamas two weeks ago. It would be good to hear the entire world speaking clearly, and with one voice, about the actions that Hamas took, about the slaughter of people, about the fact that that should be absolutely intolerable, unacceptable to anyone, anywhere, any country, any people,” Blinken replied.
“Second, as I said, for a country to not only not respond- it's not about responding. It's not about retaliating. It's about defending Israel from these ongoing attacks. As I said, the rockets continue to this day. And it's about taking the steps necessary to try to make sure, to the best of Israel's ability, that this can't happen again.”
“Now, as we said, very clearly, the President's been very clear about this- how Israel does that matters,” continued the Secretary of State. “Making sure that to the greatest extent possible civilians are protected. Civilians are deliberately put in the crossfire by Hamas. Hamas undertook the slaughter. It knew Israel would have to respond and yet all of its people, its senior leaders, its weapons, its tunnels, all are co-located in residential buildings. They're buried underneath hospitals and schools. It knew that in Israel's necessary response, civilians would be caught in that crossfire. It's the last thing we want to see. It's imperative that every step be taken to protect them.”
“But what does anyone expect Israel to do? It can't allow the situation to continue. No country can live like that. So that's what's- I think, in the minds of Israelis right now. Again, we're speaking to them, as I said, about how they do it, and also how they can best achieve the results that they seek,” he explained.
“We talked to the Israelis about what they're planning. We give them our best advice. It's important, as we said, not only what they do, but how they do it, particularly when it comes to making sure that civilians are as protected as they possibly can be in this crossfire of Hamas' making,” said Blinken.
“We want to make sure that humanitarian assistance gets in and both countries care deeply about the- the hostages. There are many, many Israelis who are hostage and of course, hostages from other nationalities. So we're working to do everything we can, using whatever levers, partnerships, relationships, we have to get them out. Israel is doing the same. But in terms of what we're talking to Israel with regard to their military operations, it really is focused on both how they do it, and how best to achieve the results that they seek.”
Earlier on Sunday, CNN reported that the US government has pressed Israel to delay its imminent ground offensive in the Gaza Strip to allow for the release of more Hamas hostages and aid into Gaza.
“The [administration] pressed Israeli leadership to delay because of progress on the hostage front” and the need to get trucks of aid into Gaza, one person familiar with the discussions said.
The National Security Council did not immediately respond for comment.
When Biden was asked Saturday if he was encouraging Israel to delay the invasion, he responded, "I'm talking to the Israelis."