Israel war: Antony Blinken to visit Israel this week

Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Israel and Jordan in the coming days after terrorist attacks by Hamas in Israel resulted in conflict in the Middle Eastern country.

The State Department confirmed on Tuesday that Blinken will travel to the two countries from Oct. 11-13 and meet with “senior officials” during the trip.

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“The Secretary will reiterate his condolences for the victims of the terrorist attacks against Israel and condemn those attacks in the strongest terms.  The Secretary will also reaffirm the United States’ solidarity with the government and people of Israel.  He will also discuss measures to bolster Israel’s security and underscore the United States’ unwavering support for Israel’s right to defend itself,” Matthew Miller, State Department spokesman, said in a statement.

Blinken himself confirmed he would be traveling to Israel to “engage with our Israeli partners directly about the situation on the ground,” in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Tuesday.

The secretary of state also said he spoke with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Tuesday and reassured the president of the Jewish state that the United States supported its right to self-defense.

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The announcement came shortly after President Joe Biden addressed the nation on the terrorist attacks in Israel, saying, “The United States has Israel’s back.” Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before his address to the country.

Israel declared war against Hamas, the first time it had declared war since 1973, shortly after the attacks on Saturday. The conflict has killed at least 1,800 people in Israel and Gaza since the first terrorist attacks by Hamas, according to the Associated Press. Biden said in remarks on Tuesday that at least 14 Americans are among the dead in Israel.