Antony Blinken’s message was clear and unambiguous: US support for Israel will sustain.
He spoke personally about his Jewish ancestry; his personal horror at the Hamas attacks.
There must, he said, be moral clarity about condemning Hamas’ brutality which both he, and Netanyahu, compared to that of the Islamic State group.
Blinken promised Israel more ammunition to re-stock its air defences. He promised bipartisan support in Congress for more military assistance.
But there was also a note of caution. The US Secretary of State said Israel had a right to defend itself but how it did that mattered.
He said democracies distinguish themselves from terrorists by holding themselves to different standards, holding themselves to account when they fall short.
“Our humanity, the value we place on human life and human dignity… is what makes us who we are,” he said.
“That’s why it is so important to take every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians. And that’s why we mourn the loss of every innocent life, civilians of every faith, every nationality that have been killed.”
This was a clear echo of President Biden’s call yesterday for Israel to follow the rules of war as it bombards Gaza.
From Netanyahu, there was a challenge to his neighbours in the Middle East. Hamas, he said, should be treated like ISIS and “spat out from the community of nations”.
The leadership of Hamas is based in several Gulf countries, most particularly Qatar.
BBC