Blinken: "No Country in the UN Would Tolerate Slaughter"

The United States stands by Israel: American Secretary of State Antony Blinken responded this evening (Tuesday) to the statements made by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who claimed during the Security Council discussion that Hamas's attack on Israel occurred because the Palestinians are "under occupation." In his remarks, Blinken called on the UN to condemn the deadly events in the South and to uphold Israel's right to self-defense.

"No country that is a member of the United Nations would have tolerated the slaughter of its own people," Blinken clarified. "We should all condemn the attack by Hamas on October 7 absolutely without reservation, and no country in the United Nations can be forgiving of what happened."

He also asked Guterres: "Where is the shock, disgust and clear condemnation of the atrocities that Hamas has committed? This council has a responsibility to condemn Hamas. Their actions are illegal and unjustified, no matter where they occur and no matter who commits them. Hamas does not represent the Palestinians - it uses them as a human shield."