Blinken: Not in world's interest for war to end with Hamas in power

(JNS) — Hamas should be removed from power when the conflict in Gaza ends, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a year-in-review press briefing at the State Department on Wednesday.

“Everyone would like to see this conflict end as quickly as possible, but if it ends with Hamas remaining in place and having the capacity and the stated intent to repeat Oct. 7 again and again and again, that’s not in the interest of Israel,” Blinken said.

“It’s not in the interest of the region,” he added. “It’s not in the interest of the world.”

It is “striking” that amid all of the international d...