Blinken's End-of-Year Speech; Emphasis on the Importance of Destroying Hamas and Comprehensive Support for Israel

On Wednesday, December 20, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken addressed various issues in his end-of-year press conference, including aid to Ukraine, the conflict between Israel and Hamas, and the challenges posed by China. Blinken reiterated America's comprehensive support for Israel and the need to minimize civilian casualties. He also spoke about ongoing efforts to return hostages and the importance of ending the cycle of violence to achieve lasting peace. The Secretary of State stated that Israel cannot choose between destroying Hamas and minimizing civilian casualties. He emphasized that the U.S. believes Israel not only has the right but the obligation to defend itself and ensure that October 7 does not happen again. He described Israel's actions to destroy Hamas as vital, asserting that any other country facing what Israel endured on October 7 would do the same. Blinken added that if Hamas remains in power and can repeat the October 7 attack, it would not be in the interest of Israel, the region, or the world. He noted that while many countries have called for an end to the conflict, no country has asked Hamas not to use human shields. He questioned, "Why is there no request made of the aggressor and only of the victim?" In response to whether there is a red line regarding Israel's response to Hamas, he stated that the conflict must enter a phase of "less intensity" and added that the U.S. expects Israel to change its targeted operations to focus on Hamas and its networks, thereby reducing civilian harm. Blinken also emphasized the expansion of alliances in 2023, stating that engagement with China will be from a position of strength. He mentioned that the U.S. will confront challenges posed by China in cooperation with G-7 countries and the European Union, including China's economic performance and human rights issues. The Secretary of State stated that improving living conditions for people worldwide is a priority for the United States. He urged families of hostages in all countries not to lose hope, saying, "We stand with you, and the President of the United States works every day to bring your loved ones home." He added, "Every hostage that returns to America is a message of hope for others." In part of his remarks, the Secretary of State also called on the U.S. Congress to approve President Joe Biden's requested additional funding to support Ukraine, Israel, and U.S. border security. He warned that if this funding is not approved, "Tehran, Moscow, and Beijing" would be pleased. The Biden administration requested approximately $106 billion in emergency funding from Congress in October. Regarding U.S. support for Ukraine, Blinken stated that this aid not only helped Ukrainians but that 90% of it was spent in the United States to strengthen U.S. defensive capabilities. The Secretary of State described Russia's aggression against Ukraine as a "strategic failure" and stated that the U.S. will continue to encourage other countries to support Ukraine in its war against Russia. In his end-of-year remarks, Blinken also praised the resilience of journalists, noting that this year has been very challenging for them, and they have worked hard to deliver accurate information to their audiences. The article also mentions the increased military presence of the West in the Red Sea; the leader of the Houthis threatened U.S. warships; Lloyd Austin stated during a visit to the USS Ford that they will not allow the war in Gaza to turn into a "regional conflict"; constructive discussions between the U.S., Qatar, and Israel regarding the release of hostages have not yet resulted in an agreement; and Britain and Italy have joined the U.S.-led international operations to counter Houthi attacks.