Where is the ‘outrage’ in Hamas? Emotional Antony Blinken wonders why the world’s anger is now focused on Israel and there is a ‘deafening silence’ on October 7, as he reveals that the US is still unaware of Netanyahu’s Rafah plans
- Blinken expressed outrage when foreign aid workers were killed last week
- He was asked on Tuesday why he had not expressed outrage over other assisted deaths
- He said he was “stunned” by the silence about Hamas and its killings
Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivered an emotional rebuke to critics of Israeli and U.S. foreign policy, asking why their outrage was not directed at Hamas and the architects of the shocking Oct. 7 terrorist attack.
World opinion has hardened against Israel over the siege of Gaza and the deaths of more than 33,000 Palestinians.
At the same time, the Biden administration is under increasing pressure to end arms sales to its biggest ally in the Middle East and rein in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government as famine looms in the Palestinian enclave.
When asked Tuesday why it took the deaths of foreign aid workers instead of thousands of Palestinians, local aid workers and journalists to trigger an outpouring of outrage and a harder line from President Joe Biden, Blinken expressed clear frustration.
“It remains astonishing to me that the world is almost deafeningly silent when it comes to Hamas,” he told Foreign Ministry reporters.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken made his comments at a press conference alongside British Foreign Secretary David Cameron after their meeting on Tuesday morning
Blinken delivered an emotional rebuke to critics of Israeli and American foreign policy, asking why their outrage was not directed at Hamas and the architects of the shocking Oct. 7 attack.
“We would not be where we are today if Hamas had not chosen to engage in one of the most heinous acts of brutality and terrorism on October 7.
‘And after they had done that, had they not refused these many, many months to get out of the way of the civilians, to stop hiding behind them, to lay down their weapons… to surrender to give. Where’s the outrage there?’
His words were more explicit and emotional, but officials have often used a similar strategy to deflect questions about Israeli behavior by responding with details of Hamas’ barbarity when gunmen killed 1,200 people on Oct. 7.
Last week, seven aid workers – including an American and three Britons – were killed by an Israeli airstrike.
The result was an immediate change of course by the White House. A spokesman condemned the killings and Biden, in an appeal to Netanyahu, demanded a ceasefire and hinted at a future shift in US support for Israel.
He demanded immediate action to ease the humanitarian crisis.
In the meantime, officials have repeatedly warned Israel against launching an operation in Rafah, Gaza’s last refuge for families fleeing the bombardment, and asked to see a plan on how Israel can minimize civilian casualties.
A day earlier, Netanyahu said he had a date for when the operation would begin.
On Tuesday, Blinken said U.S. officials remained in the dark about a timeline.
Two men sit in a donkey-drawn cart moving past the rubble of a destroyed building in Khan Yunis on April 7, 2024, after Israel withdrew its ground forces from the southern Gaza Strip, six months into the devastating war sparked by the attacks of October 7.
Israeli soldiers at a checkpoint along the Gaza border in southern Israel
“On the contrary, what we have is an ongoing conversation with Israel about a possible Rafah operation,” he said.
The talks, he added, were expected to continue next week.
“I don’t expect any action to be taken prior to those talks, and in that regard I don’t see anything imminent. “But there is still much work to be done and it remains our belief that major military operations in Rafah would be extremely dangerous to civilians at risk,” he said.
At the same time, talks are underway in Cairo to find a way out of the devastating war.
Egyptian and Qatari mediators are trying to reach a deal that would bring hostages held by Hamas home. The terrorist group wants an agreement that will put an end to the Israeli offensive.