Blinken says he understands US protesters for Gaza, questions silence on Hamas

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he "very much understands" the passion behind ongoing pro-Palestine protests in US campuses and respects their right to protest.

"It is notable that there is silence about Hamas," he added, speaking at a news conference in Beijing, China.

"As I’ve said before … this could be over tomorrow, it could have been over yesterday, it could have been over months ago, if Hamas had put down its weapons, stopped hiding behind civilians, released the hostages and surrendered," he said. "But of course it has chosen not to do that."

Blinken insists that Israel is "working every day to try to minimise the damage done to people", but protesters in the US are accusing him and the Biden administration of complicity with Israel's actions in Gaza.