Blinken traveling to Israel this week in show of support

Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Israel this week in show of support for the country amid its conflict with Palestinian militant group Hamas, the State Department confirmed Tuesday.

Blinken will travel to Israel “in the coming days” to engage with Israeli leaders about the situation on the ground, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Tuesday.

Miller said the expectation is for Blinken to leave Wednesday and arrive in Israel on Thursday. Asked about the secretary of state’s plans while in Israel, Miller said the trip is “still being put together,” though further announcements could come later Tuesday afternoon.

“Our support for Israel is unwavering and the Secretary looks forward to meeting with senior leaders in the Israeli government and continuing the the discussions he and the president have been having with them since the initial attacks on Saturday,” Miller said during the State Department’s daily press briefing on Tuesday.

Earlier Tuesday, President Biden condemned the “abhorrent” attacks on Israel by Hamas, vowing the U.S. will provide full support to the Israeli people.

Biden said he wants to make it “crystal clear” the U.S. stands with Israel.

“And we will make sure Israel has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself and respond to this attack. There’s no justification for terrorism,” Biden said Tuesday. “There’s no excuse.” 

Over 1,000 Israelis have been killed since last Saturday, when Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza, launched a multi-pronged attack on Israel, invading multiple Israeli towns by land, sea and air.

Israel quickly moved on its counteroffensive against Hamas, sending airstrikes into Gaza since Saturday. At least 830 people have been killed in Gaza and the West Bank, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

Biden confirmed Tuesday that the number of Americans killed in the attacks had risen to 14.

Hamas has reportedly captured over 150 hostages, including some Americans. National security adviser Jake Sullivan said Tuesday the U.S. believes there are 20 or more Americans who are missing at this point, though that does not necessarily mean there are 20 or more American hostages.

Since the onset of the crisis Saturday, Biden has met with his national security team each day while his administration has repositioned military assets in the region to assist Israel and start sending munitions and inceptors for Israel’s Iron Dome.

In addition to assistance being directed to the Israel Defense Force (IDF), Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on Sunday that an American carrier strike group was moved closer to the eastern Mediterranean to “bolster regional deterrence efforts.”

The Ford carrier strike group includes the USS Gerald R. Ford, the U.S. Navy’s most advanced aircraft carrier, along with multiple missile cruisers and missile destroyers.