“I also hear very much the passions expressed in this room and outside this room,” the secretary said, adding while the Biden administration is “determined” to see the sufferings of Gazans end, it is nonetheless “imperative” for the United States to “resolutely” stand up with allies and partners.
Austin, who spoke from the perspective of the Pentagon following Blinken’s speech, said that by submitting the urgent supplemental budget request, the administration is asking Congress to “help fund America’s national security needs, stand by our partners, and invest in our defense industrial base.”
At one point during the question-and-answer session with the senators, Blinken said now is not the time to enforce a ceasefire, for doing so would play into the hands of Hamas, enabling them to “potentially repeat” the attacks on innocent Israeli civilians on Oct. 7.