Blinken Has to Remind CBS’s Brennan He Was Sheltering From Hamas Rockets Just Days Ago: ‘No Country Can Be Expected To Tolerate This’

Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Face the Nation host Margaret Brennan on Sunday that terror group Hamas is preventing American citizens stuck in Gaza from leaving, showing again their “total disregard for civilians.”

Blinken was on several Sunday talk shows to discuss the war that began when Hamas committed heinous acts of terror, torture, kidnapping, and murder against Israeli civilians on October 7.

Among the civilians trapped in Gaza as the war unfolds are as many as 600 American citizens, according to reports, and Blinken pointed out to Brennan that it is Hamas, not Israel, preventing them from leaving or being rescued when she suggested it was Israel that was responsible.

“In terms of what’s happening in Gaza, I know there are an estimated 500 to 600 Americans there,” said Brennan. “Is there any chance Israel lets some of those Americans out or Egypt allows some of those Americans in?”

“To date, at least, Hamas has blocked them from leaving, showing once again its total disregard for civilians of any kind who are – who are stuck in Gaza,” Blinken had to point out.

Brennan, who last week when speaking to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis felt it necessary to nitpick the term “antisemitism” for some reason, next asked Blinken whether the administration has “asked the Israeli government to delay in order to give you more time to broker the release of these hostages?”

Blinken was forced to remind Brennan of more details about the situation — including noting that he was just sheltering from the still constant barrage of Hamas rockets aimed at civilians in Israel when he was there just days ago.

“First, step back for a second, because it’s important to remember what happened,” Blinken said. “It’s incredible how quickly that gets lost, because it was only a couple of weeks ago that Hamas invaded Israel with its terrorist fighters and slaughtered – and I use that – that word very deliberately – slaughtered so many people. Again, men, women, young children, babies, old people, you name it.”

“Right,” said Brennan.

“And they continue to rain rockets down on Israel. When I was there. a few days ago, we were in the bomb – we were – we had to take shelter a couple of times, because of incoming rockets from Hamas,” he said. “No country, no country can be expected to tolerate this, to live with this.”

The White House this weekend clarified that President Joe Biden had not heard the full question when he had responded with a “yes” to a reporter asking if the United States was asking Israel to delay a ground invasion into Gaza. The press continue to ask whether such an appeal is being made despite the question being answered many times already.

BRENNAN: In terms of what’s happening in Gaza, I know there are an estimated 500 to 600 Americans there. Is there any chance Israel lets some of those Americans out or Egypt allows some of those Americans in?

BLINKEN: You’re exactly right.

And to date, at least, Hamas has blocked them from leaving, showing once again its total disregard for civilians of any kind who are – who are stuck in Gaza.

BRENNAN: Have you asked the Israeli government to delay in order to give you more time to broker the release of these hostages?

BLINKEN: First, step back for a second, because it’s important to remember what happened.

It’s incredible how quickly that gets lost, because it was only a couple of weeks ago that Hamas invaded Israel with its terrorist fighters and slaughtered – and I use that – that word very deliberately – slaughtered so many people…

BRENNAN: Right.

BLINKEN: … again, men, women, young children, babies, old people, you name it.

And they continue to rain rockets down on Israel. When I was there. a few days ago, we were in the bomb – we were – we had to take shelter a couple of times, because of incoming rockets from Hamas.

BRENNAN: Understood.

BLINKEN: So, my point is this.

No country, no country can be expected to tolerate this, to live with this. And, as we said from the start, Israel has both the – the right and even the obligation not only to defend itself, but to try to make sure that, to the best of its ability, this can’t happen again.

So, we talk to the Israelis about what they’re – what they’re planning. We give them our best advice. It’s important, as we said, not only what they do, but how they do it, particularly when it comes to making sure that civilians are as protected as they possibly can be in this crossfire of Hamas’ making.

But in terms of what we’re talking to Israel about in their – with regard to their military operations, it really is focused on both how they do it, and how best to achieve the results that they seek.

Watch the clip above via Face The Nation on CBS.