Blinken in Qatar: Israel Has the Right and Duty to Defend Its People

Qatar announced on Friday its commitment to implementing an agreement between the Islamic Republic and the United States regarding six billion dollars of Iranian funds in one of its banks. Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar, stated in a joint press conference with Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, that this six billion dollars will be spent based on the agreement between the United States and the Islamic Republic. In this press conference, Antony Blinken also said that the United States seeks to prevent the escalation of conflicts in the region and to secure the release of hostages. Blinken, who had met earlier with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, added that he discussed with Qatari officials the need to deter governments and non-state actors from escalating conflicts. The senior diplomat of the Biden administration stated that the United States is actively working to free hostages taken during Hamas's attack on Israel. According to the U.S. Secretary of State, Israel not only has the right but also the duty to defend its people and prevent the recurrence of such attacks. He noted that Israel's operations in Gaza are in response to Hamas's terrorist attacks, stating that Hamas uses civilians in Gaza as human shields and places them in areas at risk. Blinken mentioned that he urged Israeli officials to exercise utmost caution to avoid harming civilians. He stated that all countries should condemn Hamas's actions and hold the group accountable. The senior Biden diplomat emphasized that what Israel is doing is not revenge but a defense of its citizens' lives. Blinken added that he is actively collaborating with aid organizations to address the needs of the people in Gaza. He stated that the focus of the United States is now on creating safe zones for civilians in Gaza. During this press conference, the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar also mentioned that their country is seeking to establish a humanitarian corridor for the transfer of aid to the residents of Gaza. He urged Qatar's partners, especially the United States, to save civilians from the consequences of the ongoing crisis. Antony Blinken had earlier praised Qatar's efforts to secure the release of hostages, sharing a photo of his meeting with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha. Blinken stated that he discussed the terrorist attacks against Israel and the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas with the Emir of Qatar and expressed gratitude for Qatar's efforts to ensure the return of hostages. About an hour earlier, he had also posted two images of his arrival in Qatar, stating: 'We condemn the terrorist attacks in Israel in the strongest terms. I traveled to Doha to discuss the situation in Israel with government leaders [of Qatar].' In his subsequent post on the social media platform X, Blinken stated: 'The efforts of our regional partners to prevent the escalation of conflict will be vital.' The Times of Israel also reported that Blinken discussed the ongoing conflict in Gaza and Qatar's efforts to persuade Hamas to release hostages during his meeting with the Emir of Qatar. On Friday, as Israel prepared to begin an attack on the Gaza Strip to destroy Hamas, Blinken met with Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Authority, and King Abdullah of Jordan in Amman. On Thursday, Blinken had also met with the Prime Minister, President, and Foreign Minister of Israel in Tel Aviv, condemning Hamas's terrorist attacks and emphasizing U.S. support for Israel and its right to defend itself. Bahrain and Saudi Arabia will be Blinken's next stops. The White House stated that Israel's request to relocate civilians in Gaza is 'a difficult matter.' An Israeli embassy staff member in Beijing was attacked. Austin stated: 'Now is not the time for neutrality'; Gallant stated: 'This is a war for freedom and shared values.' The United Nations reported that more than 400,000 people in Gaza have left their homes. The Israeli army stated that 220 Palestinians wanted in the West Bank have been arrested. The U.S. Secretary of Defense, during a meeting with Netanyahu, stated that Hamas's actions are worse than what he has seen from ISIS. A day after Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of Defense also arrived in Israel. Israel stated that the accusation of using white phosphorus in the attack on Gaza is 'definitely a lie.' The Vatican stated that it is ready to mediate for the release of hostages in Gaza.