Antony Blinken

Part of that was making sure that Israel had what it needed to defend itself to deter broader aggression. The second part of that was when we were on the precipice on multiple occasions of having the wider war that Hamas wanted, we found ways through diplomacy and through defense and deterrence to avert it.

Part of that was making sure that Israel had what it needed to defend itself to deter broader aggression. The second part of that was when we were on the precipice on multiple occasions of having the wider war that Hamas wanted, we found ways through diplomacy and through defense and deterrence to avert it.

No, that's not accurate. What we've seen time and again is Hamas not concluding a deal that it should have concluded. There have been times when actions that Israel has taken have, yes, made it more difficult, but there's been a rationale for those actions, even if they've sometimes made getting to a conclusion more difficult. For example, the killing of Sinwar.

No, that's not accurate. What we've seen time and again is Hamas not concluding a deal that it should have concluded. There have been times when actions that Israel has taken have, yes, made it more difficult, but there's been a rationale for those actions, even if they've sometimes made getting to a conclusion more difficult. For example, the killing of Sinwar.

In the absence of SINWAR, where you had basically a single decider, that happened just at a point where we thought we might be able to bring this agreement over the finish line. All of a sudden, there's not a single decider, and it's a lot harder to get a decision out of Hamas. So all of these actions have second and third order effects that you have to calculate. But fundamentally, look...

In the absence of SINWAR, where you had basically a single decider, that happened just at a point where we thought we might be able to bring this agreement over the finish line. All of a sudden, there's not a single decider, and it's a lot harder to get a decision out of Hamas. So all of these actions have second and third order effects that you have to calculate. But fundamentally, look...

One of the things that I found a little astounding throughout is that for all of the understandable criticism of the way Israel has conducted itself in Gaza, you hear virtually nothing from anyone since October 7th about Hamas. Why there hasn't been a unanimous chorus around the world for Hamas to put down its weapons, to give up the hostages, to surrender.

One of the things that I found a little astounding throughout is that for all of the understandable criticism of the way Israel has conducted itself in Gaza, you hear virtually nothing from anyone since October 7th about Hamas. Why there hasn't been a unanimous chorus around the world for Hamas to put down its weapons, to give up the hostages, to surrender.

I don't know what the answer is to that. Israel on various occasions has offered safe passage to Hamas's leadership and fighters out of Gaza. Where is the world? Where is the world in saying, yeah, do that. End this. Stop the suffering of people that you brought on. Now, again, that doesn't absolve Israel of the way of its actions in conducting the war.

I don't know what the answer is to that. Israel on various occasions has offered safe passage to Hamas's leadership and fighters out of Gaza. Where is the world? Where is the world in saying, yeah, do that. End this. Stop the suffering of people that you brought on. Now, again, that doesn't absolve Israel of the way of its actions in conducting the war.

But I do have to question how it is we haven't seen a greater sustained condemnation and pressure on Hamas to stop what it started and to end the suffering of people that it initiated.

But I do have to question how it is we haven't seen a greater sustained condemnation and pressure on Hamas to stop what it started and to end the suffering of people that it initiated.

I have... inordinate respect for the people in this department who've not only had different views of the policies that we pursued, but have expressed those views, including in what's been a time-honored tradition of the department, which is something called a descent channel cable. This is the ability of any officer in the department.

I have... inordinate respect for the people in this department who've not only had different views of the policies that we pursued, but have expressed those views, including in what's been a time-honored tradition of the department, which is something called a descent channel cable. This is the ability of any officer in the department.

to send a message, a memo, a cable to me reflecting their differences. And every single one of those winds up on my desk, every single one of those I read, every single one of those I respond to, including 20 or so on Gaza. And some, of course, have brought forward some of these facts. I didn't need to send channel cables to have the facts in front of me. I get them every single day.

to send a message, a memo, a cable to me reflecting their differences. And every single one of those winds up on my desk, every single one of those I read, every single one of those I respond to, including 20 or so on Gaza. And some, of course, have brought forward some of these facts. I didn't need to send channel cables to have the facts in front of me. I get them every single day.

I read everything. I comment on everything. I look for answers on everything. Does that mean we get to the right answers every time? No. But does it mean we're intensely focused on it? Yes.

I read everything. I comment on everything. I look for answers on everything. Does that mean we get to the right answers every time? No. But does it mean we're intensely focused on it? Yes.

And again, my goal has been to end this conflict in Gaza in a way that makes sure that October 7th doesn't happen again, that ends the suffering of people and does it in an enduring way that brings the hostages home.

And again, my goal has been to end this conflict in Gaza in a way that makes sure that October 7th doesn't happen again, that ends the suffering of people and does it in an enduring way that brings the hostages home.