Biden's Secretary of State Antony Blinken 'angry' over diplomatic leaks on Israel-Hamas conflict: report

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has reportedly expressed frustration with the number of leaks coming from his State Department regarding sensitive diplomatic discussions, particularly those related to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict

This frustration comes in the wake of several leaks, including a notable Reuters article from last month, which revealed an internal memo that showed some US officials thought Israel may be violating international law in Gaza.

During a team meeting earlier this month, Blinken urged State Department leadership to curb the leaks, emphasizing the complications they cause in diplomatic efforts. According to a report by Politico, Blinken's concerns center on how these leaks hinder negotiations and erode trust within the department.

Blinken highlighted that the leaks have made negotiations more challenging and have undermined trust within the State Department, as confidential documents and private conversations are being disclosed to the media. One state official, who spoke anonymously to Politico, explained that Blinken’s frustration with leaks has been relayed throughout the State Department.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller commented on the issue, stating, “The secretary has been clear that leaks about sensitive diplomatic discussions don’t advance the interests of the United States and can make it difficult to engage in the sort of broad internal consultations that enrich the policymaking process.”

Blinken’s desire to crack down on the diplomatic handling of Israel and Hamas also comes at a time when several government officials have resigned in protest to how the Biden administration has been handling the conflict.