Blinken: Israel targeted Hamas, not Gaza civilians

Former US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken addressed the war in Gaza overnight Sunday in a speech to the General Assembly of the Jewish Federations of North America in Washington, stating clearly that Israel did not intend to harm Palestinian civilians in the Strip and that the aim was to strike Hamas terrorists only.

He said, "The Israelis did not intend to harm Palestinians. The target was Hamas, but unfortunately, too many people were caught in between and suffered as a result. Sometimes Israel did only the bare minimum necessary to prevent harm to Palestinian civilians. But that is fundamentally different from intending to harm them or eliminate them.

We must be able to recognize the justice of Israel's need to respond after October 7th. At the same time, we must be able to recognize the suffering of the Palestinians in Gaza in the many days that came after."

Blinken went on to say that the only solution to the conflict would be through diplomatic efforts and the establishment of a Palestinian state. "To all those who say 'from the river to the sea,' who want Israel to disappear: guess what? It won't. And to all those who advocate for Greater Israel, who want the Palestinians to disappear: guess what? They won't either," he said. "There are 7 million Jews, and there are 7 million Arabs and Palestinians. None of them are going anywhere. If you are not willing to recognize that fact, and if you are not willing to act on that fact, this conflict will never be resolved, and Israel will never be secure."

"I believe from the bottom of my heart, as I have believed all along, that the only way forward is through a secure Israel and a sovereign Palestine," he concluded. "To preserve Israel's security, the Palestinian state can be demilitarized. That's how you ensure that Palestinian society itself does not become radicalized. It's not simple, but it's possible if people want to do it."