Blinken: US "Continues To Stand With Israel"

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking at a press conferencein Tel Aviv, Israel following a day of meetings with Israeli government officials, has told reporters that the, "immense human toll" Israel experienced on, and after, October 7 is "one of the many reason" the United States, "continues to stand with Israel."

• Blinken's presser comes amid intense media speculation of a deepening rift between Washington and the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the future of the conflict with Hamas.
• Blinken says he believes the South African submission to the ICC which alleges Israeli war crimes, "distracts the world" and "the charge of genocide is meritless."
• Blinken states the "daily toll on civilians in Gaza, particularly on children, is far too high."
• Blinken confirms reports that he struck an agreement with the Israeli government to allow the UN to enter Gaza to "carry out an assessment" on the next steps to allow displaced persons to return home to northern Gaza.
• Blinken says, repeating comments directed at hardline membersof Israel's government, that he told Netanyahu that the US "unequivocally rejects any proposals advocating for the resettlement of Palestinians outside of Gaza."
• Blinken says Netanyahu confirmed that this is not the policy of the Israeli government.