Blinken: Protecting Civilians is Biden Administration's Priority and U.S. Commitment to Israel is Strong

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that delivering humanitarian aid to the residents of Gaza and ensuring the protection of civilians is a priority for the Biden administration, emphasizing that the U.S. commitment to Israel's right to self-defense remains strong. In a press conference on Wednesday, March 14, he stressed the need for aid and civilian protection in Gaza, adding, 'We expect the Israeli government to prioritize this issue in its decisions and actions.' The press conference followed a virtual meeting he held with his counterparts from Cyprus, the UK, the UAE, and a representative from the United Nations. Blinken also discussed the U.S. plan to send humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza via the Mediterranean Sea, stating, 'This project will happen, but its implementation will take time.' He identified a ceasefire as the best way to facilitate this aid, saying, 'A very good proposal is on the table, but the question is whether Hamas will accept it.' President Joe Biden first announced the construction of a maritime pier by the U.S. for sending aid to Gaza in his annual speech on March 6. It is expected that 2 million meals will be delivered to Gaza and distributed among Palestinians living in camps. The lack of municipal police to distribute this aid and the potential for chaos are among the biggest challenges in delivering this humanitarian assistance. Following the terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the kidnapping of over 250 others, Israel launched an offensive against Gaza aimed at destroying this Iran-backed Islamist group. Hamas officials have repeatedly stated that they would carry out such an attack again if capable. Without mentioning the number of its members killed as a result of the Israeli offensive, Hamas claims that over 31,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed and about 73,000 others injured. The Persian section of Voice of America cannot independently verify or confirm the statistics provided. The United States, the UK, the European Union, Japan, Israel, and several other countries have designated Hamas as a terrorist organization. Gita Aryan, a senior reporter for the Persian section of Voice of America, primarily focuses on foreign policy news. She began her journalism career in 1987 with work in radio and joined Voice of America in 2004.