Speaking on ABC’s “This Week” with Martha Raddatz, 61-year-old Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the White House was working with Israel to reduce civilians deaths as it prosecutes it war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. U.N. Amb. Linda Thomas-Greenfield vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution Dec. 9 for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Blinken was asked by Raddatz to explain why the White House vetoed a unanimous Security Council ceasefire resolution. Hamas’ Ministry of Health claims over 17,000 deaths due to the two-month old Israeli War against Hamas in Gaza. “We’re focused on two things: We’re focused on—what is the intent, and are they[the Israelis] taking necessary measures to make sure that they’re acting in adherence with humanitarian law, and international law? But then also what the results,” Blinken told Raddatz.
Raddatz and other journalists parrot that death toll stats given by the Hamas-controlled Gaza Ministry of Health. White House officials haven’t actively disputed the Hamas death toll narrative, at least publicly because of the uproar 81-year-old President Joe Biden caused Oct. 25 when he questioned the factual accuracy of Hamas reporting. Since then, no U.S. or international news organizations question what’s reported by Hamas, despite the lack of verification. Israel claims the death toll given by Hamas is grossly exaggerated to make Israel look bad while it prosecutes it war. No one at the U.N. when it issued its Dec. 9 ceasefire resolution asked Hamas to return all remaining hostages, accept exile and leave power in Gaza. Some members of the U.N. Security Council and General Assembly still don’t accept the legitimacy of the Israeli state.
Biden has walked a tightrope trying to placate the global community and, at the same time, recognize that Israel can no longer live with Hamas in control of Gaza. Hamas’ Oct. 7 massacre satisfied its bloodlust but it wrecked any semblance of legitimacy in running the Gaza Strip. Some Arab states and others like Iran still accept Hamas’ charter of destroying Israel, giving control of the Holy Land to Palestinians. Palestinians have been at war with each other since Hamas seized Gaza in 2007 from the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority [PA]. PA leader Mahmoud Abbas, 87, doesn’t have the military necessary to seize control back from Hamas, or if Hamas is ousted, to prevent another power grab, posing a dilemma when Israel drives Hamas from Gaza.
Blinken told Raddatz while the White House is concerned about civilian casualties and suffering in Gaza, they believe the war could be over if Hamas leaves Gaza. “There’s a gap between the intent and the results, and that’s the gap that we’re trying to make sure is closed,” Blinken said about steps to reduce casualties. “Look, this could be over tomorrow.. This could be over tomorrow. If has go out of the way of civilians instead of hiding behind them, if it puts down its weapons, if it surrendered,” Blinken said. Blinken laid bare for all to see the official U.S. position on Israel’s Hamas war. White House officials, who recently allocated Israel $106 million in tank munitions, want regime change in Gaza. White House no longer believes it can work toward a stable Mideast peace with Hamas in control of Gaza or anywhere else in the Holy Land, including the West Bank.
If the U.N. really wants a ceasefire, they need to call on Hamas to leave Gaza, accept exile in Oatar or some other
Islamic country. Hamas won’t leave because they run criminal terror group looting the Hamas government from all its billions in donations intended to improve life in Gaza. Hamas showed its true colors raping Israeli girls and women while rampaging in Israel on Oct. 7. Hamas leadership gave its programmed terroriys all the methamphetamine, MDMA and ketamine they needed to commit rape, torture, murder and mayhem. No one at the U.N. talks about Hamas sexual violence against Israelis, only what goes on in Africa or parts of Asia. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, 74, hasn’t accepted that Hamas cannot return to power in Gaza. Guterres still thinks Israel occupies Palestine territory in East Jerusalem and the West Bank
Blinken set the record straight for the White House policy on the Israeli-Gaza War: They want Hamas to leave Gaza or continue the war. U.N. officials have once again shown tone-deafness to terrorism, when they used to tolerate brutal terror groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS. If there was any doubt about Hamas, all the documented rapes and sexual violence against Israeli teenage girls should leave all doubt about Hamas fitness to rule Palestinians or anyone else. “When it comes to a ceasefire in this moment, with Hams still alive, still intact, and again, with the stated intent of repeating Oct. 7 again and again and again, that would simply perpetuate the problem,” Blinken said. While juggling civilian casualties, the White House puts the blame squarely on Hamas. If the U.N. wants to protect ordinary Palestinians, they need to call on Hamas to get out of Gaza.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma
