Visiting Israel Today, US Foreign Minister Blinken: I Was Hit Watching Palestinian Children Expelled From Ruins

JAKARTA - United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken will discuss the steps "can and should" be taken by Israel, to minimize civilian casualties during his visit to Tel Aviv today.

"(We) will discuss concrete steps that can and must be taken, to minimize losses to men, women and children in Gaza, this is the commitment of the United States," Foreign Minister Blinken said.

Although he did not elaborate further, Foreign Minister Blinken emphasized that the topic was on the agenda of his visit. The State Department said Foreign Minister Blinken was expected to meet Prime Minister Antony Blinken and Israeli government officials.

"When I saw a Palestinian boy, boy or girl, pulled from the rubble of a collapsed building, it made me very devastated, such as seeing a child in Israel or anywhere else. So this is something we must respond to and we will," explained Foreign Minister Blinken.

When asked whether Israel had shown control of its attacks on Gaza, Foreign Minister Blinken did not give a yes or not, but reiterated Israel has the right to defend itself, but is "responsible to do everything possible to protect civilians."

Foreign Minister Blinken departed from Washington on Thursday local time to travel to Israel, Jordan, Japan, South Korea, and India.

"The US is determined to prevent any escalation," he said before flying.

Foreign Minister Blinken added, there must be a focus on what will happen next.

"We have to hold talks now on how we can establish the best conditions for lasting, sustainable, lasting and sustainable peace for Israel and Palestine," he said.