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- Netanyahu vows 'very powerful' response if Hamas breaks ceasefire
Netanyahu vows 'very powerful' response if Hamas breaks ceasefire
Blinken's arrival to the Jewish States comes just days after Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Tuesday that if the Gaza-based terrorist organization violates its ceasefire agreement with Jerusalem, it should expect a "very powerful" response from the IDF.
Netanyahu delivered the remarks alongside US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who made his first official visit to Israel and landed at Ben Gurion International Airport earlier in the day to "solidify" the ceasefire truce reached on Friday between the two arch-enemies after 11 days of deadly fighting.
"If Hamas breaks the calm and attacks Israel, our response will be very powerful," the Israeli premier said, following a meeting with Blinken in Jerusalem.
Before leaving for his official trip to the Middle East, US President Joe Biden said Blinken would meet "with Israeli leaders about our ironclad commitment to Israel's security," as well as seeking to rebuild ties with the Palestinians.
Blinken said during the presser that the US would ensure international aid toward rebuilding Gaza would not "benefit" its Hamas rulers.
"We'll work with our partners closely, with all, to ensure that Hamas does not benefit from the reconstruction assistance," he said.
Blinken on Sunday reaffirmed US support for a two-state solution as the only way to provide hope to Israelis and Palestinians that they can live "with equal measures of security, of peace and dignity."