This morning, Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to appear on Capitol Hill to discuss the State Department's budget. However, the focus is expected to shift towards the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Blinken has strongly criticized the International Criminal Court's request for arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Galant, and Hamas leaders. He denounced the ICC's attempt to equate Israel with Hamas as 'shameful' and emphasized the U.S.'s unwavering support for Israel.
During his appearances before the Senate, Blinken is likely to face intense questioning on various international issues. The spotlight will be on Israel's military actions in Gaza and the U.S.'s stance on providing military aid to Israel. Recent concerns over Israel's operations in Rafah have led to the U.S. delaying a shipment of bombs and issuing warnings about potential consequences if the situation escalates further.
