WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says he “fully” expects the ceasefire deal in Gaza will be implemented as expected on Sunday, despite Israel pointing to a last-minute dispute with Hamas.
Watch Blinken’s farewell remarks in the player above.
Blinken faced two significant interruptions at his final briefing to reporters in office, both from people accusing him of complicity in Israeli violence against Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Diplomatic security physically removed one person who shouted, “Why aren’t you in the Hague?” a reference to the world’s top war-crimes court.
Blinken and other members of the Biden administration have faced criticism for the civilian casualties and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as well as for not imposing meaningful restrictions on sending arms to Israel.
Blinken called the ceasefire and hostage deal “a moment of historic possibility for the region.”
However, he said it would still “take tremendous effort, political courage, compromise … to deliver on the promise of a more integrated Middle East.”
