US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, on Thursday visited Israel, just as he vowed unending US support for the country following last week’s attack by Hamas militants.
Blinken, during a meeting with Israeli president, Benjamin Nethanyahu, said: “You may be strong enough on your own to defend yourself, but as long as America exists you will never, ever have to.”
According to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Blinken added that how Israel defends itself “matters” and “it is so important to take every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians”
Earlier, Israel said the siege of Gaza would not end until Israeli hostages were released.
At least 150 hostages were taken into Gaza during Hamas’s deadly attacks on Israel at the weekend that killed 1,300 people.
Israel has also enforced a total blockade of the Gaza strip.