Extremist Israeli ministers and representatives opposed the demands of US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to Benjamin Netanyahu’s government regarding changing the method of war in the Gaza Strip and handing over tax money to the Palestinian Authority.
Israeli Channel 13 said, “Some of Blinken’s meetings that he held in Israel were tense,” and the channel added, “Blinken said in a meeting with the War Cabinet that it is impossible to completely eliminate Hamas.”
Ministers and MPs made public statements on the
Among them:
“US Secretary of State Blinken, welcome to Israel. We greatly appreciate the United States’ support for Israel, but with regard to our presence in our country, we will always act in accordance with the Israeli interest. Therefore, we will continue to fight with all our might to destroy Hamas, and we will not transfer a shekel to the Palestinian Authority that goes to families.” The Nazis are in Gaza, and we will work to allow the doors of Gaza to be opened for the voluntary migration of refugees, as the international community did with regard to refugees from Syria and Ukraine.”
“The news about Israel’s intention to change the method of warfare and switch to targeted operations has a clear meaning: this way we will not defeat Hamas, we will not return the kidnapped ones, and we will not be able to guarantee the residents of Sderot and Netivot return to their homes safely.”
“Giving up Israeli control of the Rafah crossing means continuing to supply Hamas with rockets and bombs. It is not too late to act differently. It is not too late to defeat the enemy.”
- Udi Siegel, Israeli commentator for Channel 13:
“Anthony Blinken’s visit yesterday left a bitter feeling and a worrying atmosphere. There is a gap between what Blinken says and what the Israeli government says.”
Regarding the return of Palestinians to the northern Gaza Strip, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority said that Netanyahu told Blinken in a meeting held between them that it is not possible at this stage to return the population to the northern Gaza Strip.
