Blinken compares the actions of Hamas to those of ISIS and promises that the US will always defend Israel

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Israel Thursday to protest Hamas' “litany of brutality and inhumanity” as conjuring “the worst of ISIS.” He vowed to continue supporting Israel.

The message Blinken gave Israel in Tel Aviv with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was: “You may be strong enough on your own to defend yourself, but as long as America exists, you will never, ever have to. “We will always support you.”

The senior US diplomat's travel, days after Hamas' fatal attacks in Israel, is another show of support as the Biden administration works to strengthen Israel's defenses and stop the conflict from spreading. The visit comes as the US strives to free Hamas hostages, including American citizens, and as the death toll from Hamas attacks and Israeli bombings in Gaza rises.

A “handful” of the 14 missing Americans are suspected to be hostages, the White House said Thursday. Hamas strikes have killed at least 27 Americans, they said. The senior US ambassador met with families of Americans killed or kidnapped by Hamas in Israel and promised that “we’re doing everything we can to secure the release of the hostages, working closely with our Israeli partners.”

In talks with Netanyahu, the senior US ambassador reiterated “the crystal clear warning the President Biden issued yesterday to any adversary – state or non-state – thinking of taking advantage of the current crisis to attack Israel: Don’t.”

We will work with Congress to meet Israel's defense needs as they change. We have tremendous bipartisan support in Congress for Israel's security, Blinken stated.

“No nation would tolerate the slaughter of its citizens or return to the conditions that enabled it. Israel has the right and duty to protect itself and prevent this from happening again, Blinken said.