Blinken’s now-deleted tweet
Blinken Deletes Tweet Encouraging Ceasefire Between Israel and Hamas
The US is strongly backing Israel's siege on Gaza
by Dave DeCamp
Secretary of State Antony Blinken deleted a tweet where he said he was “encouraging” efforts to push for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Blinken made the post on X after he spoke with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Saturday. “I encouraged Türkiye’s advocacy for a ceasefire and the release of all hostages held by Hamas immediately,” Blinken wrote in the now-deleted tweet.
The State Department’s readout of the call did not mention a ceasefire but said Blinken “encouraged Türkiye’s continued engagement and highlighted the United States’ unwavering focus on halting the attacks by Hamas and securing the release of all hostages.”
The State Department’s US Office of Palestinian Affairs also deleted a tweet calling for restraint and de-escalation. “We unequivocally condemn the attack of Hamas terrorists and the loss of life that has incurred. We urge all sides to refrain from violence and retaliatory attacks. Terror and violence solve nothing,” the office wrote on X.
The Biden administration has come under criticism for the deleted tweets despite the fact that it’s strongly backing Israel. Instead of pushing for an end to the bloodshed, the administration has sent new military aid and deployed warships as Israel has ordered a “complete siege” of Gaza and is bombarding the enclave, one of the most densely populated places in the world.