Antony Blinken, the U.S. secretary of state, lashed out at those who called for a ceasefire in Gaza during a Group of Seven meeting, and said, “those calling for an immediate ceasefire have an obligation to explain how to address the unacceptable result that would likely bring.”

Blinken essentially repeated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s line that the war must go on no matter the humanitarian costs. The idea is that any pause would allow Hamas to regroup. Netanyahu has said there can be no compromise as long as the group is holding hostages. 

On 7 October, Hamas invaded parts of Israel and killed about 1,200 people and took about 240 hostages. Israel has been relentless in its bombing campaigns and killed more than 11,000 and displaced 1.5 million.

The G7 meeting occurred in Tokyo and top diplomats have called out for urgent action to help those in Gaza. The diplomats wrote that “all parties must allow unimpeded humanitarian support for civilians, including food, water, medical care, fuel and shelter, and access for humanitarian workers. 

“We support humanitarian pauses and corridors to facilitate urgently needed assistance, civilian movement, and the release of hostages,” the Associated Press reported. 

Blinken said the entire group wants the conflict to end “as soon as possible and meanwhile to minimize civilian suffering.”

“But, as I discussed with my G7 colleagues, those calling for an immediate cease-fire have an obligation to explain how to address the unacceptable result that would likely bring about: Hamas left in place with more than 200 hostages, with a capacity and stated intent to repeat October 7th again and again and again,” Blinken said, according to the AP.

TRENDPOST: Blinken has a long history of being pro-war and anti-peace. See:

● “BLINKEN WARNS IRAN NOT TO GET INVOLVED” (31 Oct 2023)

● “RUSSIA CUTS OFF GRAIN SHIPMENTS, WARMONGER BLINKEN DOESN’T LIKE IT” (8 Aug 2023)

● “WARMONGER BLINKEN, NO TIME FOR PEACE” (6 Jun 2023)

● “BULLSHIT BLINKEN KEEPS SELLING RUSSIA’S WAR WITH UKRAINE AS A ‘STRATEGIC FAILURE’” (6 Jun 2023)

● “U.S. SEC. OF STATE BLINKEN ‘VIOLENTLY’ AGREES THE KILLING MUST GO ON IN UKRAINE” (16 May 2023)

● “BLINKEN VOWS TO RAMP UP UKRAINE WAR” (27 Sep 2022)

● “BLINKEN MEETS WITH LAVROV: WAR HAWKS SCREAMING” (25 Jan 2022)

● “SEC. OF STATE BLINKEN: U.S. WILL WEAPONIZE UKRAINE TO DEFEAT RUSSIA” (13 Dec 2022)

● “BLINKEN IS SHINING EXAMPLE OF HYPOCRISY, PALESTINIANS LIVES AND LAND DON’T MATTER” (1 Nov 2022)

● “BLINKEN BELLOWS: U.S. COMMITTED TO UKRAINE’S SOVEREIGNTY IS ‘IRONCLAD’” (16 Nov 2021)

TRENDPOST: The Trends Journal has reported extensively on how there’s a double standard when it comes to U.S. and Israel’s foreign policy. (See “STATE DEPARTMENT DIVIDE: DIPLOMATS CALL ON BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO CONDEMN ISRAEL’S GAZA GENOCIDE” 7 Nov 2023, “TOP TREND 2023, MIDEAST MELTDOWN: ISRAEL WAR THREATENS GLOBAL ECONOMY” 7 Nov 2023, “HEZBOLLAH HEAD WARNS ISRAEL: KEEP KILLING PALESTINIANS, GET READY FOR MULTI-FRONT WAR” 7 Nov 2023, and “PRO-ISRAEL BILLIONAIRE PUSHES CENSORSHIP. WANTS TO ENFORCE FINANCIAL BLOCKADE AGAINST PENN STATE” 7 Nov 2023.)

Besides the bombing, Israel’s blockade has put Gaza’s health system on the brink. On Saturday, the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health said three newborn babies have died in Gaza’s Al-Shifa Hospital.

“The intensive care unit, pediatric department, and oxygen devices have stopped working” because of a lack of fuel, Dr. Ashraf al-Qidra, a ministry spokesman, told CNN. 

The network said Doctors Without Borders could not contact staff at the Al-Shifa Hospital who had described a “catastrophic situation” inside.

In a statement Saturday, the organization said “ambulances can no longer move to collect the injured, and non-stop bombardment prevents patients and staff from evacuating.”