Denies The US Has Double Standards On Israeli Human Rights Violations, Foreign Minister Blinken: Ukraine Is Very Different From Gaza

JAKARTA - United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken denied his country had double standards regarding alleged human rights abuses by Israel, stressing there was a difference between Gaza and Ukraine.

He conveyed this in response to reporters who said Washington was trying to hide such accusations only when it came to the Jewish state.

"Do we have double standards with Israel? The answer is no," Foreign Minister Blinken said at a press conference launching the 2023 State Department's human rights report, as reported by The Times of Israel April 23.

"As explained in this report, we apply the same standards to everyone and that does not change whether the country is an enemy, competitor, friend, or ally," said the US Secretary of State.

Foreign Minister Blinken further reiterated the efforts of Uncle Sam's country to investigate allegations of human rights abuses by Israel in the fight against Hamas in Gaza "is ongoing."

Admitting such an investigation took time to complete, the Foreign Minister noted the US was not waiting to contact Israeli authorities to immediately obtain clarification on alleged violations if this happened.

Foreign Minister Blinken rejected comparisons made by journalists at US pace responding to alleged human rights abuses by Russia in Ukraine, with a more protracted process in adjudicating Israel's alleged crimes in Gaza.

"Kasus di Ukraina sangat berbeda dengan di Gaza. Orang-orang Ukraina sama sekali bukan target yang sah seperti hamas di Gaza. (Hamas juga) menempatkan diri di tengah-tengah warga sipil, berbeluk di dalam dan di bawah gedung apartemen, masjid, rumah sakit, sebut saja," jelasnya.

"In the case of Ukraine, when Russian troops withdrew from Bucha, we were able to clearly see what was happening. Each of these situations was different," he said.

In addition, Foreign Minister Blinken also stressed "Israel has shown the capacity to see itself. This is what distinguishes democratic countries from other countries, abilities, willingness, determination to see themselves," he continued.

"In my understanding, they conducted many open investigations based on reports containing allegations of human rights violations," Foreign Minister Blinken concluded.