Israel releases murdered babies' pics, says Benjamin Netanyahu showed them to US leader Antony Blinken

Netanyahu's office claimed the photos were of babies murdered and burnt by Hamas.

“Here are some of the photos Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu showed to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Warning: These are horrifying photos of babies murdered and burned by the Hamas monsters. Hamas is inhuman. Hamas is ISIS,” the prime minister's office posted on X, formerly Twitter.

The timing of the post is significant as it comes amid a controversy over Israel's claims of Hamas beheading babies.

US President Joe Biden had said on Wednesday that the attacks by Hamas were "sheer evil" and claimed to have seen photos of the group's operatives beheading babies.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed on Thursday that the United States will always be by Israel’s side as he arrived in Tel Aviv in a show of support amid the escalating war with Hamas.

"The message that I bring to Israel is this: You may be strong enough on your own to defend yourself but as long as America exists, you will never ever have to, we will always be there by your side," Blinken said at a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv.

Israel has "the right, indeed an obligation to defend itself and to ensure that this will never happen again," the secretary reiterated.

The US is supplying ammunition and interceptors to replenish Israel’s Iron Dome, alongside other defense materials. The first shipments of US military support have already arrived in Israel, and more is on the way, Blinken said.

The US also continues to work closely with Israel to secure the release of people taken hostage by Hamas, he stressed.

The US is pursuing intensive diplomacy throughout the region to prevent the conflict from spreading, Blinken said.