Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday said that at least 33 Americans were killed when Hamas terrorists attacked Israel on Oct. 7, with another 10 Americans unaccounted for.
Blinken, during an address to the United Nations Security Council, said the U.S. has confirmed at least 33 Americans were killed during the attack and he said a “handful” of Americans are still being held hostage by Hamas.
He also said civilians in Gaza must be allowed to receive humanitarian aid and noted that although Israel does have the right to defend itself, it “must take all possible precautions to avoid harm to civilians.”
“Every civilian life is equally valuable,” Blinken said. “There is no hierarchy when it comes to protecting civilian lives. A civilian is a civilian is a civilian, no matter his or her nationality, ethnicity, age, gender, faith.
“Palestinian civilians are not to blame for the carnage committed by Hamas. Palestinian civilians must be protected.”
Blinken also called on the members of the U.N. Security Council to use public and private means to “prevent this conflict from spreading,” particularly when it comes to Iran.
“To all the members of this council, if you, like the United States, want to prevent this conflict from spreading, tell Iran, tell its proxies in public, in private, through every means: Do not open another front against Israel in this conflict. Do not attack Israel’s partners,” Blinken said. “We urge members to go a step further and make clear that if Iran or its proxies widen this conflict and put more civilians at risk, you will hold them accountable.
“Act as if the security and stability of the entire region and beyond is on the line — because it is.”
via newsmax
