JUST IN: State Department Holds Press Briefing After UN Worker Killed In Gaza Air Strike
On Tuesday, State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel held a press briefing.
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NewsTranscript
00:00 Ready?
00:02 That was great.
00:03 In unison again.
00:04 I love it.
00:06 I have one very brief thing off the top,
00:08 and then I'm happy to dive into your questions.
00:11 So as many of you are tracking, Secretary Blinken
00:15 is in Kiev today.
00:16 He just completed delivering remarks
00:19 at Kiev's Sikorsky Polytechnic University.
00:23 There, he shared a very clear message
00:26 to our partners in Ukraine, that they are not alone.
00:29 In fact, the United States has been by Ukraine's side
00:32 from day one, and we will remain by Ukraine's side
00:35 until its security, sovereignty, and ability to choose
00:39 its own path is guaranteed.
00:41 About one year ago, the Secretary
00:44 spoke in Helsinki-- and I know some of you
00:46 were on that trip-- about how Putin's
00:48 aggression against Ukraine has proven to be
00:51 a strategic failure for Russia.
00:53 Today, he is back in Kiev and spoke
00:56 about Ukraine's strategic success.
01:00 The Secretary outlined how we are working together
01:03 with Ukraine in a wide network of partners.
01:05 First, he talked about the recent passage
01:09 of the $60 billion supplemental bill
01:11 and how it demonstrates what we're doing to help ensure
01:16 Ukraine has the military it needs
01:18 to succeed on the battlefield, and the military it
01:22 needs to secure a just and lasting peace
01:24 and deter future aggression.
01:26 Second, he talked about what we're
01:28 doing to ensure Ukraine's economy not only survives,
01:32 but thrives.
01:33 And finally, he discussed how we're
01:35 helping the Ukrainian people realize
01:38 their democratic aspirations.
01:40 For decades, Putin has caused unspeakable grief
01:44 for the people of Ukraine.
01:46 And for the past 811 days, Ukrainians
01:49 have denied Putin his goal of erasing Ukraine from the map
01:53 and subjugating its people.
01:55 The Secretary is in Kiev to reaffirm
01:57 what President Biden has said, which
01:59 is that we want Ukraine to win, and we're committed to helping
02:02 Ukraine to do just that.
02:03 And with the support of the United States,
02:05 our partners and allies, the Ukrainian people
02:07 can and will achieve their vision for the future,
02:10 a free, prosperous, and secure democracy fully integrated
02:14 into the Euro-Atlantic community and fully
02:16 in control of its own destiny.
02:18 So with that, Sean, do you want to kick us off today?
02:20 Sure.
02:21 First of all, you're exactly on time, sir.
02:22 You seem quite--
02:24 I try to be punctual.
02:28 Sure.
02:29 I'm sure there are lots of things we want to ask.
02:31 Could I actually start on Georgia?
02:33 Sure.
02:35 I know there have been lots of statements
02:37 over recent days about what's happening there,
02:39 but the parliament has actually pushed
02:42 through the foreign influence law,
02:44 despite the mass protests and the warnings
02:46 from the US and the EU.
02:47 Do you have any comment on that and how
02:49 this would affect the relationship
02:50 with the United States?
02:51 So we are aware of the status of this legislation.
02:54 We're continuing to watch closely
02:55 about further developments in Georgia.
02:57 Assistant Secretary Jim O'Brien is in Tbilisi.
03:00 He's spent the day meeting with Georgian officials.
03:03 And I imagine he'll have more to say after the conclusion
03:06 of his engagements.
03:07 But you heard me talk a little bit about this yesterday.
03:10 More than 80% of the Georgian people want EU membership.
03:14 We support that aspiration.
03:16 We also know that the Georgian government
03:19 has said it wants to join the EU and have
03:21 a relationship with transatlantic organizations
03:24 such as NATO.
03:25 This is something that is consistent with Georgia's
03:28 own constitution.
03:30 But things like this legislation,
03:32 they are inconsistent with that stated goal.
03:35 So we value our relationship, that partnership
03:39 we have with Georgia, one that has existed
03:42 for more than 30 years.
03:43 And we would like to continue to deepen that collaboration.
03:48 And there is still time to work collaboratively,
03:50 but it's our point of view that the Georgian government needs
03:53 to change course from the one that it's on.
03:57 But again, I imagine Assistant Secretary O'Brien and others
03:59 will have more to talk about their engagements.
04:01 And just to clarify, it needs to change course.
04:04 That means on this law specifically and more broadly
04:06 as well?
04:06 Right.
04:07 So we have been clear that as it relates to this legislation,
04:12 it is indicative of the kinds of things
04:15 that we see in the Kremlin and elsewhere,
04:17 legislation that targets civil society, legislation that
04:21 targets media organizations, legislation
04:23 that targets nonprofits.
04:25 All of these things are not just inconsistent with the values
04:28 that we have with the United States,
04:30 but they're also inconsistent with the aspirations
04:33 of the Georgian people.
04:35 Just a follow up.
04:36 Sure.
04:37 The briefing just ended in Tbilisi.
04:39 James O'Brien just finished the briefing.
04:41 And I don't think the purpose of his visit in Tbilisi
04:44 was achieved based on what he said.
04:47 He said, again, he reiterated himself
04:49 that if this law moves forward against the European standards
04:55 and norms, the relationship between Washington and Tbilisi
04:58 will be under review.
05:00 So I don't think the reason he was there was reached.
05:04 He met with the member of the officials.
05:07 He met the prime minister.
05:08 He met the head of the parliament.
05:12 When it comes to the actual internal mechanisms,
05:15 there are no other mechanisms.
05:16 The law is already passed at the parliament.
05:19 So when you say that, do you really
05:22 think that there's still room available for--
05:25 they are not backing--
05:26 So one of the things--
05:27 one of the things that Secretary O'Brien talked about
05:30 was that if the law was revised, we
05:33 have the opportunity to strengthen our partnership.
05:37 So we continue to believe there are mechanisms and avenues
05:39 that they can produce to make this law less
05:45 inconsistent with the aspirations and values
05:48 that they themselves are saying that they're
05:50 committed to through their constitution
05:52 and through their own public posturing.
05:53 How much is the Secretary monitoring?
05:56 How much is he aware of what's going on in Georgia?
05:59 Is he--
05:59 He is absolutely staying in close touch
06:02 with the team in Tbilisi, as well as in close touch
06:05 with Assistant Secretary O'Brien and others,
06:09 obviously we can brief and keep in touch with the Secretary
06:13 as often as we need to.
06:14 Thank you.
06:14 But very lastly, I know you don't
06:16 preview any sanctions, any measures.
06:19 However, can you provide any clarity on what is at stake?
06:24 What type of mechanisms will be put in forward?
06:28 So I'm not going to preview any sanctions or actions
06:31 that the United States government might take.
06:33 But again, we have enjoyed a successful partnership
06:37 and relationship with Georgia that has existed
06:40 for more than 30 years.
06:41 And we want to continue that work.
06:43 And there is still time, in our opinion,
06:45 to work collaboratively to do that.
06:47 Thank you.
06:49 I'm going to come back.
06:50 On this topic--
06:51 [INAUDIBLE]
06:52 All right, Alex.
06:53 I'm going to hold you to it.
06:53 If you ask something off topic, I'm
06:54 going to go somewhere else.
06:56 Yes.
06:56 Can you please confirm that Oleg Ivanovich
06:58 really refused to meet with Assistant Secretary O'Brien?
07:01 I'm just not going to speak to the specific scheduling
07:06 of the Assistant Secretary.
07:07 Obviously, when he was on the ground,
07:09 he met with a number of Georgian officials.
07:11 I'm sure he also engaged appropriately
07:14 with other entities within Georgia,
07:16 as well as appropriate consultations with our embassy.
07:20 But I don't have his schedule more specifically than that.
07:23 And do you have an update on the American citizens that
07:25 have been arrested yesterday?
07:27 I have no updates on that, Alex.
07:28 We continue to be monitoring the situation.
07:31 We're aware of some arrests and detentions
07:34 of American citizens in light of some of the protests
07:36 that we're seeing.
07:38 Obviously, when an American citizen is detained anywhere,
07:40 we do our best to request consular assistance
07:44 and stand ready to provide all appropriate other assistance
07:47 to any affected individuals.
07:51 Given the fact itself that American citizens have
07:54 been detained, do you have any call, any warning
07:58 to American citizens in Georgia that they are in danger?
08:01 I don't have any updates to offer
08:04 as it relates to travel advisory warnings
08:06 as it relates to Georgia, Alex, which would be the mechanism
08:08 by which we do that.
08:09 I think it's a couple more questions.
08:10 I'm going to--
08:11 Just to clarify a couple more things.
08:12 We're leaving.
08:12 I'll come back to you, I promise, Alex.
08:15 I'll come back to the front row.
08:16 Sean, anything else you had before we go to--
08:17 I was going to change topics, unless you want to--
08:19 I was going to go to Gaza.
08:20 Gaza.
08:21 Go ahead.
08:22 Do it, sir.
08:22 OK.
08:23 You said yesterday that you were aware of reports of US citizens
08:27 unable to leave Gaza.
08:28 Do you have an update on how many and any progress on that?
08:32 So I think specifically yesterday,
08:35 we were talking about the question
08:37 as it relates to a group of American citizens
08:40 who were doctors and medical professionals that
08:43 have been stuck in Gaza since the closing of the Rafa
08:46 border.
08:46 So we're continuing to monitor that situation.
08:49 We're aware of those reports.
08:51 As I said yesterday, this isn't a border crossing
08:53 that we control.
08:55 But we are continuing to engage directly and actively
09:00 with the governments of Israel, the governments of Egypt,
09:03 to advocate for their safe departure from Gaza.
09:08 We believe that there is more that can be done here.
09:11 And this is just another example of why
09:15 it is so crucial and important that the Rafa border
09:18 crossing be open, not just for the appropriate flow
09:22 of humanitarian aid, but also for the safe departure
09:26 from foreign nationals.
09:28 I will also just want to use this opportunity
09:30 to reiterate our advice to US citizens
09:33 to heed our level four travel advisory warning as it relates
09:38 to Gaza, given the fact that it is a region in armed conflict.
09:42 The security environment within Gaza
09:44 is extremely dangerous and volatile.
09:46 And then on the aid, do you have an updated number
09:49 on aid trucks getting into Gaza?
09:51 And how much has Rafa being closed impacted that?
09:54 So a couple of things.
09:56 First, I just want to say as it relates to Rafa, the border
10:01 crossing, we are continuing to do everything
10:05 we can to ensure that the border crossing can be opened.
10:13 Specifically, we're engaging with the governments
10:17 of Israel, the governments of Egypt
10:19 to do so when it comes to humanitarian aid.
10:23 We are also specifically trying to do
10:29 what we can to ensure that Karim Shalom and other crossings
10:33 are being utilized as a maximum throughput for some
10:39 of this humanitarian aid.
10:41 As it relates to aid that has been flowing this week,
10:44 we've seen 50 trucks enter Gaza on May 12.
10:48 This is not nearly enough.
10:50 More needs to be done.
10:51 And it's another example of why the Rafa border crossing needs
10:55 to be open so we can see further sustained humanitarian aid
11:00 flow into Gaza.
11:01 OK, and has the Israeli government
11:03 been receptive on that?
11:04 So I talked a little bit about this yesterday.
11:07 In order for the Rafa border crossing to reopen,
11:10 we need to see operational and some security circumstances
11:16 which would allow it to make it safe to do so.
11:19 And we're continuing to have those conversations
11:21 and engagements to make it so.
11:23 But we continue to believe that it
11:25 needs to be reopened as swiftly as possible.
11:28 And then has the US finalized a deal with the UN
11:30 to distribute the aid from the pier in Gaza?
11:33 And where in Gaza will the UN take possession of the aid?
11:35 So as it relates to any role that the UN might play,
11:39 I'd let my colleagues at the United Nations speak to that.
11:42 And on the operational status of the JALATs or the pier,
11:46 I'll just let my Department of Defense colleagues
11:49 speak to some of the operational updates.
11:51 So you can't say if a deal's been reached?
11:53 I don't have any updates for you on that.
11:55 [INAUDIBLE]
11:55 Sure.
11:56 Back in Gaza.
11:57 Stolen Gaza.
11:58 The Qatari prime minister today--
12:01 I'm sure you saw his comments, but he
12:03 was quite downbeat on the prospects
12:04 for further negotiations and was blaming Israeli actions
12:08 and words going to Rafa.
12:09 I mean, do you still believe that talks are possible?
12:12 Do you think-- is diplomacy ongoing on this?
12:15 So we continue to believe that a hostage deal is the best way
12:18 to save the lives of the hostages,
12:20 avoid a full-scale military operation where more than a
12:24 million people are sheltering.
12:25 And despite reports of the contrary,
12:29 talks continue to be ongoing.
12:31 And we're continuing to do everything
12:35 we can to focus on getting these conversations done.
12:39 Look, to take a step back, we've long
12:42 said that a ceasefire that is coupled with a deal
12:46 to release all hostages, one that
12:47 is coupled with the additional flow of humanitarian aid,
12:51 is something that can help create
12:52 the space for additional diplomacy in the region.
12:56 And when you say talks are ongoing,
12:57 does that mean like in virtual form or--
12:59 I'm just not going to speak to the specifics.
13:02 Could I ask you one other thing about Gaza?
13:04 Sure.
13:04 There was some attention yesterday, statements
13:06 by the deputy secretary regarding Israel.
13:10 He was speaking in Florida, Kurt Campbell,
13:12 saying that Israelis talk of sweeping victory
13:17 in the battlefield, total victory.
13:19 I don't think we believe that is likely or possible.
13:22 Now, the day before, Secretary Blinken, he said,
13:25 in one of the talk shows, that it's perhaps not
13:28 possible for Israel to eliminate all of Hamas.
13:31 Are they saying the same thing?
13:33 I mean, Deputy Secretary Campbell's remarks
13:35 might have implied that perhaps there's not
13:38 a possibility of victory in some form by Israel.
13:41 Can you clarify what--
13:42 So what Secretary Blinken and also Deputy Secretary Campbell
13:47 are talking about, to take a bit of a step back,
13:50 the President and this administration
13:51 have been clear that the US wants to see Hamas defeated,
13:55 and we want to see justice delivered
13:57 as it relates to the perpetrators of the October 7
14:00 terrorist attacks.
14:01 There can be no equivocation on that.
14:04 But while, of course, military pressure is necessary,
14:08 it is not the only sufficient thing to fully defeat Hamas.
14:14 If Israel's efforts are not accompanied
14:17 by a political plan for the future of Gaza,
14:19 for the future of the Palestinian people,
14:22 the terrorists will keep coming back,
14:24 and Israel will continue to remain under threat,
14:26 and we will continue to find ourselves
14:29 in this continued cycle of violence.
14:32 So what the Secretary, the Deputy Secretary,
14:34 are talking about how Israel has a responsibility
14:38 to connect their military operation
14:40 to a clear strategic endgame about a holistic, integrated
14:45 strategy to ensure the lasting defeat of Hamas
14:48 and for a better alternative future for Gaza,
14:51 one that is consistent with the principles
14:54 that the Secretary laid out in Tokyo.
14:56 We're talking about things like a Gaza reunited
14:59 under the Palestinian Authority, a Gaza that is not
15:03 under the control of Hamas and can no longer
15:05 be a springboard for terrorism against the Israeli people.
15:11 And we are talking about a region that, in our hope,
15:14 has a negotiated two-state solution that
15:18 is reflective of the will of the Israeli and Palestinian people.
15:22 That's what we're talking about here.
15:23 I have some things on other topics, but I imagine--
15:25 Sure.
15:25 I'll work the room.
15:26 Said, go ahead.
15:28 Thank you, Vidan.
15:31 Here I have a copy of my newspaper
15:33 exactly 20 years ago, the 13th of May, 2004.
15:38 And in it, I have my full interview
15:40 with the then National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice,
15:43 in which she says, maybe by next May, 2005,
15:49 we'll have a Palestinian state.
15:51 And the irony is I was probably here that day asking Richard
15:55 Boucher about it later on.
15:58 And the irony is, had the United States kept
16:01 come through on its promises, we would not have October 7.
16:05 We would not have any of the dozen wars
16:08 that Israel has waged--
16:09 Are you trying to imply that--
16:11 --that Israel had waged on the Palestinians.
16:13 And I'm asking you, do you ever, guys,
16:15 do you ever exercise introspection?
16:18 Do you look back and say, all this wreckage,
16:22 all these problems, all these vehicles that you cast,
16:25 all these notes that you are including last Friday,
16:29 was it wise?
16:29 Said, I hope that you are not trying
16:31 to imply that somehow the United States is
16:34 responsible for October 7, because there was only
16:37 one perpetrator of the October 7 terrorist attack.
16:39 You know, Kwaito, that is not exactly my point.
16:41 That is not my point.
16:42 That doesn't sound like the question that you're asking.
16:45 No.
16:45 My question to you, do you ever reflect on all the promises
16:49 that you guys have made, administration
16:51 after administration after administration,
16:53 reiterating its commitment to the two-state solution,
16:56 and you've never come to one?
16:58 Do you ever reflect on that?
16:59 That is my question.
17:00 Said, we are working tirelessly to make it so.
17:02 It is for this exact reason that the Secretary
17:07 has been engaging in the shuttle diplomacy
17:10 that he has, taking an unprecedented seven trips
17:14 to the region to engage directly with Israeli officials
17:18 and others in the region on getting a ceasefire,
17:21 on getting a hostage deal, on getting
17:23 additional humanitarian aid, so we can get to a place
17:27 where the conditions are created for some additional diplomacy
17:30 to happen, to get us to a two-state solution,
17:33 to get us a region that is reflective of the principles
17:36 that the Secretary laid out in Tokyo,
17:39 to get us to a region that is not caught up
17:41 in this same cycle of violence.
17:45 Well, let me ask a couple more questions,
17:48 if you allow me.
17:48 Yesterday, you talked about human shields
17:51 and how Hamas embits itself and so on.
17:55 Well, there is a report today or yesterday
17:58 on how Hamas used -- I mean, how Israel,
18:00 the Israeli occupation army,
18:02 used Palestinian teenagers as human shields.
18:04 I wonder if you're aware of the report
18:05 and if you have any comment on it.
18:06 -So, I've seen those reports, Said,
18:08 and we're looking into these as well as other allegations,
18:11 and you've heard me state repeatedly
18:13 and you've heard Matt and the Secretary say it also,
18:15 Israel and any country has an obligation
18:17 to thoroughly investigate credible allegations
18:20 of violations of international humanitarian law.
18:23 I don't have any other updates on this specifically, though.
18:25 -Yeah, and lastly, yesterday, somebody said something
18:28 about the number of Palestinians dead and so on,
18:31 and the United Nations came out and corrected that.
18:33 I hope that you're aware of this report.
18:35 -So, I've seen that, Said,
18:37 and I will just echo what you heard me say yesterday,
18:39 that the bigger issue here
18:42 is that thousands of innocent civilians have been killed.
18:46 Any number above zero is heartbreaking, it's tragic,
18:50 and it is reflective of more needing to be done
18:54 to mitigate civilian harm.
18:56 Nadia, go ahead. -Thank you, Vedant.
18:59 As we speak now, there's almost 400,000 people
19:02 forced to leave their homes from Rafah
19:05 with no shelter, no food, no fuel, and no safe place to go.
19:09 So, how could this be different than your insistence,
19:13 the administration's insistence,
19:14 that we have to see a viable plan to evacuate people?
19:18 Because you're doing it incrementally.
19:19 What's the difference?
19:20 We're moving half a million people as we speak today.
19:23 We don't know if they're gonna move more later on.
19:25 But basically, they're doing it on stages.
19:27 So, what difference from the position you were till now?
19:32 I mean, the consequences are the same, aren't they?
19:34 -So, Nadia, when we talk about a Rafah operation
19:38 that we would take issue with,
19:41 we're talking about an operation that is major,
19:45 that is a direct invasion into Rafah,
19:48 that is targeting and invading into the urban and dense centers.
19:54 Again, I will leave it to the IDF
19:57 to speak to their own operation.
19:58 We have yet to see a major operation into Rafah.
20:03 But the concerns and criticisms that we have,
20:07 those continue to persist,
20:08 and it's something that we are going to continue
20:11 to work at with our partners in Israel.
20:14 These are conversations that are ongoing.
20:16 And to date, this operation has not happened,
20:18 in large part due to the ongoing conversations
20:21 that we've been having with the Israelis.
20:25 And again, just absent a credible plan
20:27 to get civilians out of harm's way,
20:29 we've been clear that this is not a major military operation
20:32 we'd support.
20:33 -But isn't forcing half a million people to move,
20:37 with forcing them to move out of Rafah to nowhere,
20:42 where nowhere is safe,
20:44 isn't it by itself a violation of international law?
20:46 -So we have been pretty clear, Nadia,
20:48 that there can be no forcible relocation of the Palestinians.
20:53 -Well, if they stay, they're going to die.
20:54 -That continues to be a tenet of our approach.
21:01 But ultimately, we do support efforts
21:04 to support Israel's goal of dismantling Hamas.
21:08 But like I said, we do not want to see a major operation
21:12 into Rafah, and we have not seen one yet
21:14 that we would take issue with.
21:16 We are continuing to have those conversations
21:18 with our partners in Israel, though.
21:19 -Okay, two quick questions. -Yeah, go ahead.
21:21 -On the UN worker who was killed yesterday,
21:24 the UN said that they clearly communicated to Israel
21:28 where they're moving, the exact movement,
21:30 and yet one UN worker was killed,
21:34 and that will bring the total to almost 250.
21:36 So you still believe that Israel is not targeting aid worker,
21:40 considering what happened yesterday
21:42 with the clear communication
21:43 and what happened with the World Central Kitchen?
21:45 -So the reports from yesterday evening, Nadia,
21:49 are incredibly disturbing,
21:51 and we are very concerned by what we're seeing,
21:55 of the reported strike on a UN vehicle in Gaza
21:58 that killed one aid worker and injured another.
22:01 You've heard me say this before.
22:02 You've heard the Secretary say it.
22:04 UN and humanitarian workers must be protected,
22:08 and they need to be able to continue their lifesaving work,
22:10 and we join calls for a full investigation
22:13 into this incident.
22:15 I will also say that in these kinds of circumstances,
22:20 a viable medical evacuation process for humanitarian staff
22:25 injured in military operations, accidents, or illness
22:28 is also essential.
22:31 I will also say around the specifics of this incident,
22:34 we continue to be in contact with our partners
22:37 to understand what transpired and how this happened.
22:41 We still don't have the full details, Nadia,
22:43 but we expect Israel to follow through
22:46 with the new IDF coordination cell
22:50 for real-time humanitarian efforts,
22:52 and we emphasize that there needs to be a focus
22:55 on safeguarding designated sites,
22:57 safeguarding aid personnel and civilians,
23:00 and we urge Israel to expedite the de-confliction cell
23:03 full operatization, which we have not seen that yet.
23:07 -Okay, and finally, just to follow up what you told,
23:10 Saeed, you said that the administration
23:12 worked effortlessly to establish a Palestinian state,
23:16 and you gave an example of the Secretary's visit to the region.
23:19 -We are working.
23:20 We are working towards something
23:22 that we remain deeply focused on
23:24 and has been something that I know
23:26 is a goal of the Secretary's and a goal of this President's.
23:29 -I haven't answered my question yet.
23:31 So can you tell us, before October 7th,
23:34 what exactly the administration did to make sure
23:37 that the two-state solution is viable,
23:39 and they're working on it?
23:41 -Nadia, I'm happy to follow up with a clear list
23:47 of actions that we've taken,
23:48 but if you just want to look at the focus on this
23:52 before October 7th,
23:55 you've heard the Secretary talk about this previously before.
23:58 Before the October 7th terrorist attacks,
24:00 many of you are aware the Secretary
24:02 was intending to go to the region.
24:04 He had a trip scheduled to visit Israel,
24:07 to visit the West Bank, to visit Saudi Arabia
24:11 and some other countries to talk about these very issues,
24:15 to talk about the issue of normalization,
24:18 to talk about the issue of Israel's further integration
24:21 in the region, one that we hoped could be coupled
24:25 with a two-state solution,
24:26 one that could be coupled with serious progress
24:29 for the Palestinian people.
24:32 Obviously, this brutal terrorist attack by Hamas
24:36 on the Israeli people derailed some of those efforts
24:41 in the immediate term,
24:42 but that is something we continue to remain focused on,
24:44 and that is why you saw the Secretary,
24:47 almost six months ago, in Tokyo,
24:48 lay out some clear principles of what the day after
24:53 this conflict needs to look like
24:54 and what we expect to see from our partners in Israel,
24:58 from our partners in the Palestinian Authority
25:01 and other partners in the region.
25:03 Go ahead, DR.
25:05 Actually, hold on, DR, before you go,
25:06 anything else on Gaza before we go away?
25:09 Go ahead in the back.
25:11 - Would the United States consider an all-out attack
25:15 on Rafa as being a strategic error by Israel?
25:18 - We would, we would.
25:19 We have not been,
25:22 we have not parsed our words on the fact
25:24 that a major ground operation into Rafa,
25:27 one that does not address serious concerns
25:31 of humanitarian aid, serious concerns
25:33 of more than a million people seeking refuge,
25:35 and now we are seeing potential complications
25:39 of the safe departure of foreign nationals,
25:42 a plan that does not address these things,
25:44 we would take serious concern with.
25:47 But yet, we have yet to see any kind
25:49 of major operation into Rafa.
25:51 - And we have Israeli politicians saying
25:53 that they want to see Gaza being erased off the map.
25:56 We have Israeli politicians saying
25:58 that they are going to move back in
26:00 and recolonize Gaza with the people of Gaza or not.
26:04 Do you hear any echoes on that from language
26:07 that you've used about other conflicts from that platform?
26:10 - So we have been pretty clear that that kind
26:13 of rhetoric has really no place in the discourse
26:18 as we talk about this region of the world.
26:21 I will also say that some of those things,
26:24 they are inconsistent with what our viewpoints
26:27 and beliefs are for the day after this conflict.
26:30 We are not for a reoccupation of Gaza by Israel.
26:34 Ultimately, what we want to see is a Gaza
26:36 that is reunited under the Palestinian Authority,
26:39 a Gaza where Hamas is no longer a threat
26:41 to the Israeli people, and a Gaza that can no longer be
26:45 a springboard for terrorism.
26:46 And that is what we are working towards.
26:49 Rhetoric is simply that.
26:52 It's rhetoric.
26:53 It's a distraction.
26:54 And sometimes, the language and the verbiage and the word
26:58 choice that is used is incredibly problematic.
27:01 But that is not what we're focused on.
27:05 We're focused on the facts, and we're focused on doing whatever
27:08 we can to bring a conclusion to this conflict.
27:12 Go ahead.
27:13 Thank you, Josh.
27:14 The lie of President Biden's decision
27:16 last week to halt the munitions to Israel,
27:19 what are President Biden's reasons for criticizing Israel,
27:22 our most important ally in the Middle East,
27:24 for their use of munitions in their war with Hamas in Gaza,
27:28 but not criticizing Ukraine for their use of munitions
27:31 in their war with Russia?
27:32 And a couple of quick follow-ups.
27:34 I'm sorry.
27:35 I didn't fully understand that.
27:36 What exactly are you asking?
27:37 The issue is dealing with Hamas and Iran as a greatest threat.
27:42 And I just was wanting to know about the concern
27:45 that many people have about the criticism of Israel.
27:50 So it is fully legitimate for the United States
27:54 to be concerned about the use of certain security
27:57 assets of ours in an urban and dense setting.
28:00 It's as simple as that.
28:01 That does not mean we do not support efforts
28:04 to defeat Hamas.
28:05 That does not mean we don't want to see
28:07 Hamas being held accountable.
28:09 But in the midst of all that, we also
28:11 believe strongly that every step possible
28:13 needs to be taken to minimize civilian casualties.
28:16 And it is fully reasonable for the United States
28:19 to feel strongly-- and you heard me talk about this before.
28:22 You heard the National Security Advisor say it yesterday--
28:25 have concerns about certain security systems being used
28:28 in dense and urban settings.
28:29 And I will just say again that there
28:31 is no comparison between Hamas and the security
28:37 forces of Ukraine.
28:38 And to even try and make that comparison is unacceptable.
28:42 I will also just say that the government of Ukraine,
28:46 the security forces of Ukraine, did not
28:48 commit or unleash a terrorist attack on Russian forces.
28:53 OK, a quick follow-up.
28:55 Does President Biden believe that halting munitions
28:57 to Israel will make it more likely for Hamas
29:00 to stay in power in Gaza?
29:02 And what is President Biden's response
29:04 to the exaggerated Gaza death statistics provided by Hamas?
29:09 So first, we have been pretty clear
29:12 that we believe a major operation into Rafa
29:17 is not beneficial towards Israel's security.
29:20 And it is not beneficial towards the ultimate goal
29:23 of defeating Hamas.
29:25 The Secretary was pretty clear about that this past weekend.
29:29 We support efforts to defeat Hamas,
29:32 but we continue to be in consultations
29:34 with our partners in Israel about alternative ways
29:37 to do that, including into Rafa.
29:40 And I'm sorry, I didn't catch your question.
29:42 What about President Biden's response
29:43 to the exaggerated Gaza death statistics provided by Hamas?
29:47 I know that earlier, you had made a comment here
29:50 about there is a question about Hamas inflating
29:54 their statistics.
29:56 Let me just be pretty clear about this.
29:57 This has come up a couple of times today,
29:59 that the facts on the ground are pretty clear.
30:03 Tens of thousands of innocent civilians
30:05 have lost their lives.
30:06 And any number above zero is tragic, problematic,
30:10 heartbreaking, and indicative of the fact
30:12 that more needs to be done to protect civilians in Gaza.
30:17 It is also true that we are dealing with obliterate Hamas
30:20 that has a track record of co-locating itself and embedding
30:24 itself within civilian infrastructure.
30:26 Anything else on Gaza before we close out this topic?
30:29 Yes, sir.
30:29 But on this one, can you clarify something?
30:31 Yeah, go ahead.
30:32 Is the number exaggerated, or is the UN number
30:34 is based on the people they can prove, actually,
30:37 that they have identified with the birth certificate,
30:41 with ID, while others--
30:42 So I will--
30:43 --that have to be said for is the number has not
30:45 been identified.
30:46 Nadia, I will leave it to the UN and OCHA
30:48 to clarify any discrepancy that they've had.
30:50 Yeah, but it's behaving from here to say it's exaggerated.
30:53 I'm not saying it's exaggerated.
30:55 Your colleague is, and frankly, that's the way that this works.
30:58 You all get to say whatever you want, and then I have to--
31:01 I have to respond.
31:03 We have not-- what I am simply saying
31:05 is that I will leave it to the UN and OCHA
31:09 to offer any clarification on--
31:12 I know that there's been some interest in how
31:14 they've outlaid those numbers.
31:15 I'll let them speak to that.
31:17 What I can say, and we'll just use this opportunity
31:20 to reiterate it again, is that we've
31:22 seen tens of thousands of civilians lose their lives.
31:26 And that is unacceptable, that any number above zero
31:29 is heartbreaking.
31:30 We're talking about women.
31:31 We're talking about children.
31:33 And even those that who have not lost their lives,
31:36 many are starving, living in impoverished conditions.
31:39 It's unacceptable.
31:41 Victor, go ahead.
31:42 You said we're working on the two-state solution.
31:46 Can you elaborate in another word,
31:50 do you have a plan for it, or do you
31:53 intend to introduce a plan?
31:56 If not, why not?
31:58 This is something that we're working around the clock.
32:01 We, first and foremost, are trying to get a conclusion
32:05 to this conflict.
32:06 We're trying to get a ceasefire, one that
32:08 is rooted in the release of hostages
32:10 and one that is rooted in the increase
32:11 of additional humanitarian assistance, one
32:14 that we hope can create the condition for further
32:17 diplomacy.
32:17 We also continue to have conversations
32:20 about other things, like the integration of Israel,
32:22 the further integration of Israel in the Middle East,
32:24 that we think can help and further contribute
32:27 to our ultimate goal of a two-state solution.
32:29 But I'm not going to get ahead of that process.
32:31 You mean your plan, you're working on your plan,
32:33 or their plan?
32:35 We are working on a plan with the parties--
32:37 With the party.
32:38 --with the parties to help us get to that end goal.
32:42 This is not something new, Victor.
32:43 This is something we have been talking
32:45 about pretty consistently.
32:46 We have long believed that a two-state solution
32:50 is necessary to get us out of this cycle of violence.
32:52 And what October 7th showed us, and what October 7th showed us,
32:56 is that it can no longer be business as usual with Hamas.
32:59 And that is why we also reiterated
33:01 that Hamas can no longer be a springboard for terrorism.
33:03 It can no longer be under the leading entity within Gaza.
33:11 And we need to see a Gaza that is reunited
33:14 with the Palestinian Authority.
33:15 But also experience--
33:17 Go ahead, Alex.
33:19 Quickly, one more quick question on Georgia.
33:21 I want to move to Ukraine, if I may.
33:22 OK.
33:23 Message to protesters.
33:24 We have heard from European allies.
33:25 They all said-- multiple statements actually came out--
33:29 said that we hear you, we stand with you.
33:31 Is there anything that prevents you from saying the same?
33:34 So Alex, again, when it comes to protests,
33:38 we certainly believe in people's ability to--
33:42 their ability and their right to free speech
33:44 and their right to self-expression
33:46 as it relates to this particular scenario.
33:48 Again, there's a limit to what I can say,
33:51 given privacy considerations.
33:52 We're aware of the media reports of some US citizens
33:55 being detained in Tbilisi, but that's all I have for you.
33:58 But the protesters, do they have a back--
34:00 I don't have any--
34:01 again, Alex, I'm not going to get
34:03 into the specifics of detentions.
34:04 I understand that this is something you are quite
34:06 passionate about, but we're talking about a consular issue
34:09 at the end of the day.
34:10 And so there is a limit to what I can get
34:12 into, given privacy concerns.
34:13 Fair enough.
34:14 On Ukraine, thank you for a readout on Secretary's trip.
34:17 There is a caveat that the trip still continues.
34:20 Is it fair to expect any announcement from the Secretary
34:23 when it comes to material support?
34:24 Well--
34:25 Don't get me wrong.
34:26 The speech was powerful.
34:27 He spoke about everything about the past, the speech,
34:29 and things.
34:30 But President Zelensky, I would say,
34:31 that high-key urgentness to protect its citizens.
34:35 The Secretary go all the way there empty-handed?
34:37 So I think, as you so noted, Alex,
34:40 the trip is not concluded yet.
34:43 And so I'm just not going to get ahead of the Secretary
34:45 or the process here.
34:46 Can I have one more, if I may?
34:47 Sure.
34:47 You can take it from me if you want.
34:49 It's about Kharkov Gate Dam.
34:51 Secretary made a speech, and he mentioned
34:53 Russia caused the damage.
34:58 I remember we have discussed that since last year.
35:00 And it is the largest man-made disaster.
35:03 I think you guys had your own investigation.
35:05 The fact the Secretary finally mentioned
35:07 that Russia made this damage, is it
35:10 a conclusion of the investigation?
35:12 Or how can we--
35:14 I would not interpret the Secretary's comments
35:17 as offering an assessment on the investigatory process.
35:20 I mean, what we're talking about here, Alex,
35:22 is the fact that Russia has infringed
35:24 on Ukrainian territorial integrity and sovereignty,
35:27 that much of this, all of this, is Russia's doing.
35:30 Their sheer existence and presence in Ukraine
35:34 is the cause of so much of this heartbreaking damage
35:37 and destruction that we're seeing.
35:39 But continuing to support our partners in Ukraine
35:44 including to support some of these kinds
35:46 of critical infrastructure projects,
35:49 we believe, feed into some of these key tenets
35:52 that the Secretary talked about, ensuring
35:54 that we can support and revitalize
35:59 not just Ukraine's economy, but also support it
36:02 democratically as well.
36:03 DR, go ahead.
36:03 I'm asking because the European Parliament--
36:04 I've gotten you like four questions.
36:06 Just clarify.
36:06 Go ahead, DR.
36:07 Just to finalize.
36:08 Go ahead, DR.
36:08 Thank you.
36:09 Thank you, Matt.
36:10 Today my question is a bit long,
36:11 but I will try to give you a clear image.
36:13 Today it's a bit long?
36:15 The question is a bit long, yeah.
36:17 A question on Rojava, northern Syria.
36:20 After years of occupation of Ukraine
36:21 by Turkey and Turkish-backed Syrian National Army,
36:24 SNA factions, the human rights situation in Africa
36:27 is deteriorating.
36:29 Further, a new report published today
36:31 and submitted to the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria
36:33 by CIS Fire Center and Yasser Kordes Center.
36:37 The report finds that the continuation of cutting down
36:40 olive trees and burning of the fields, illegal settlement
36:43 and demographic change, destruction
36:45 of cultural heritage, violation of housing, land,
36:48 and property rights, kidnapping for ransom,
36:50 and last but not least, in Afrin,
36:53 much of the civilian population, the Kurdish population
36:56 in particular, lives in a constant state of fear
36:58 due to the threat of the violence.
37:00 My question is that what's the US State Department reaction
37:03 to these violations and demographic change?
37:08 What actions this building has taken
37:11 to make those groups responsible for their actions
37:13 and atrocities?
37:14 So we believe that the rights of all Syrians should be respected
37:17 and we urge continued respect for international law,
37:21 applicable legal protections, and the protection
37:23 of vulnerable communities.
37:24 We also encourage all parties to act
37:27 in a manner that promotes peaceful coexistence
37:30 and respect for human rights and will continue
37:32 to shine light on human rights violations and abuses
37:35 throughout Syria.
37:36 We also want to promote accountability
37:38 for those responsible.
37:39 And have you ever reached to your Turkish partners
37:43 on that issue?
37:44 Our partners in Turkey are important key NATO allies
37:47 and we talk to them about varying issues all the time.
37:50 I'm not going to get more specific than that.
37:52 Go ahead.
37:53 Thank you so much.
37:54 It's a whole different region.
37:55 It's Mexico.
37:57 The Mexican government has opened a criminal case
38:00 against one of Mexico's most important
38:02 anti-corruption crusaders.
38:04 Her name is Mariam Paro Casar.
38:06 Her organization has received several US government grants
38:10 to fight impunity in Mexico.
38:12 Most critics have denounced the case against Mrs. Casar
38:15 as a move to scare independent watchdogs in Mexico,
38:19 but wanted to see if you have a comment about this case.
38:21 I don't.
38:22 I would just defer to the Mexican judiciary system
38:26 to speak to this.
38:27 But she's a recipient of US grants.
38:31 Should the US government stand by her?
38:33 That's nice that she's a recipient of US grants.
38:37 I just don't know anything about this case,
38:39 and so I will defer to the Mexican judiciary system
38:42 to speak to this.
38:43 Can we follow up?
38:44 Because it's something that should be in the US.
38:46 I ultimately will defer to the Mexican government on this.
38:49 Go ahead.
38:50 Thank you.
38:52 The Christian Alliance has filed a lawsuit
38:55 with the Federal Court of Iraq.
38:57 The lawsuit aims to address demands for the recognition
39:02 and inclusion of these communities,
39:07 including their right to special seats
39:10 under the quota system in the upcoming Kurdistan region
39:15 parliamentary elections.
39:17 My question is, does the State Department
39:20 support the participation of all parties
39:24 in the forthcoming local elections in the Kurdistan?
39:29 So we continue to support holding
39:31 free, transparent, and timely elections.
39:33 As a matter of principle, we encourage broad participation
39:36 in democratic processes reflective of the region's
39:40 diverse communities.
39:40 I saw some hands up here.
39:42 Go ahead.
39:42 Yeah, I'll go back on Gaza again.
39:44 Also, because Portman and also Jake Sullivan
39:46 said that yesterday, happening in Gaza is not genocide.
39:51 Let me read United Nations genocide definition
39:54 in general, Genocide Convention.
39:56 Genocide is a crime committed with the intent
39:59 to destroy a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group
40:04 in whole or in part.
40:06 According to the definition of UN genocide and reports,
40:10 happenings seems as a genocide.
40:12 How could United Nations reports and international society
40:18 convince you about genocide?
40:20 Because until now, 15,000 babies and children killed in Gaza.
40:27 So I will echo what the Secretary, myself, Matt,
40:32 National Security Advisor Sullivan has said.
40:34 We continue to believe that we are not
40:38 seeing genocide in Gaza.
40:41 And I talked a little bit about this on Monday
40:44 as it relates to the National Security Memorandum.
40:46 So I will echo again.
40:48 We have not seen any direct indication of Israel
40:51 intentionally targeting civilians.
40:55 What we are talking about, though,
40:56 is more steps can be done to further mitigate
41:01 civilian harm.
41:02 And as I said on Monday, it's reasonable to assess
41:06 that there have been instances in which Israel has not
41:09 met its obligation of international humanitarian law,
41:12 and more needs to be done there.
41:13 And we will continue to assess those matters through the tools
41:16 that we have at our disposal.
41:18 But we have not seen efforts or any indication
41:21 of intentionally targeting civilians.
41:24 I will follow up, because you will say that you will wait
41:27 to international law decision.
41:29 But there's a different example.
41:32 Two years ago, this is CNN News, Biden
41:35 called genocide for Russia after two months of start of the war.
41:41 What is differences?
41:43 I talked a little bit about--
41:44 Do you think this is a contradiction for United States?
41:46 It's not a contradiction.
41:48 We're talking about two very different circumstances.
41:51 We're talking about very different entities
41:54 and interlocutors in this.
41:56 Let's just-- I spoke a little bit about this yesterday,
42:00 but I'm happy to reiterate it again.
42:02 First, let's talk about our partners in Ukraine.
42:07 Ukraine did not launch a terrorist attack
42:11 onto the Russian Federation.
42:14 Separately, it is apparent that the Russian Federation
42:19 has committed atrocities.
42:20 We've seen that in a number of lines of efforts,
42:24 most specifically in the forced relocation
42:27 of Ukrainian children.
42:30 Also, the Russian Federation has not, in this conflict,
42:34 has not ever proven to be an entity in which it
42:39 has the ability to police itself and to hold itself accountable.
42:44 Let's talk about Israel for a second.
42:46 Israel was the victim of a major terrorist attack on October 7
42:50 and is undertaking an operation to defend itself
42:53 and to bring those terrorists to justice.
42:56 Also, it is a country that has lines of efforts
43:00 within its own system to hold perpetrators and violators
43:04 of international humanitarian law accountable.
43:08 And it is doing so.
43:09 And we made that clear in our national security memorandum.
43:12 So these are some of the key differences.
43:14 I recognize that it is easy to draw a comparison
43:17 to the conflict in Ukraine, but respectfully, it
43:21 is just not on the level.
43:23 Go ahead.
43:23 Thank you.
43:24 Thank you for that.
43:25 Pakistani and U.S. officials have held their latest talks
43:28 in Washington on how to expand cooperation
43:31 in tackling the threat of terrorism
43:34 posed to regional security.
43:36 Can you provide some details of this meeting?
43:38 So the – we confirmed with Pakistan today
43:41 our bilateral intention to increase our capacity
43:43 to meet emerging threats, specifically
43:46 to increase communication on terrorism,
43:48 specifically terrorism trends and movements of concern
43:51 in a way that is not just actionable within Pakistan,
43:55 but also an area that is actionable between our two
43:59 countries.
43:59 We also agreed about preventing and deterring terrorist groups
44:03 and the work that can be done in that place,
44:05 such as counter-IED investigations,
44:07 technical assistance at Pakistan's western border,
44:10 and other issues.
44:11 Yesterday, a missile fired by a drone
44:14 struck a house in a former stronghold
44:17 of the Pakistani Taliban along with the Afghan border.
44:20 Would you confirm or deny if that was --
44:21 So I don't have anything for you that I'd defer you
44:24 to my colleagues at the Pentagon.
44:25 So one last question.
44:26 Sure.
44:26 Iranian traders smuggle more than $1 billion
44:30 worth of fuel into neighboring Pakistan annually.
44:32 Is it a concern that how black market earning billions
44:35 of dollars in their region?
44:36 So all Iran sanctions remain in effect,
44:39 and we advise anyone considering business deals with Iran
44:42 to be aware of the potential risks.
44:44 You've had your hand up.
44:45 Go ahead.
44:46 Yeah.
44:46 Thank you.
44:47 I'm sorry to be late.
44:47 Can you confirm that the State Department did not
44:49 have any personnel on the ground in Gaza
44:51 for the development of the NSM-20 report?
44:53 And then as a follow-up, if that's the case,
44:55 can you name what NGOs, government entities,
44:58 were actually collecting the information
45:00 that the administration made their assessment off of
45:02 and what the confidence level is in them?
45:03 So we do not have personnel on the ground in Gaza.
45:06 I can certainly confirm that.
45:09 I don't have a list for you of the NGOs and media
45:13 organizations and civil society actors
45:16 that feed into this process.
45:18 But those are the kinds of entities
45:20 that do when it comes to assessing and looking
45:24 into these kinds of things through the various processes
45:27 and tools that we have, whether it be the National Security
45:29 Memorandum, whether it be Leahy, whether it be CHERG,
45:32 whether it be the Conventional Arms Transfer Policy,
45:35 End Use Monitoring, all of those things,
45:37 we work collaboratively with our embassies, our consulates
45:42 in countries where we have consulates as well,
45:44 civil society, media organizations,
45:46 all of those things feed into that process.
45:49 Follow-up, if I can.
45:50 Since you don't have personnel on the ground in Gaza,
45:53 then are you at all, or is the administration
45:55 at all concerned about the dissonance between the NGOs
45:58 that are actually providing the information,
46:00 saying that these things are in crisis
46:02 and do violate law versus what the report has concluded?
46:05 So the fact that we don't have people on the ground in Gaza
46:09 is one of the reasons why that, coupled with the fact
46:14 that we are dealing with a very dense and complex warfare
46:18 setting and a belligerent that has co-located itself
46:20 with civilians and civilian infrastructure,
46:23 is why we have not made a conclusive assessment
46:27 in the National Security Memorandum,
46:29 and rather just believe it to be reasonable that there have
46:32 been instances in which Israel's obligation
46:35 for international humanitarian law has not been met.
46:37 So the confidence in those sources is low, then?
46:40 The confidence in those sources is adjudicated
46:43 through those processes, and those processes then
46:45 output into the various tools that we have.
46:48 I'm not going to paint a broad brushstroke about
46:50 whether every single source is accurate or confident or not.
46:54 That's certainly not the case.
46:56 But that is why we have a process for these things,
46:58 for people to report, input things that they
47:02 see that they have concern.
47:04 And then we have these various processes,
47:06 including this newly National Security Memorandum,
47:09 to look into these various issues.
47:11 Go ahead.
47:12 Thank you.
47:13 The new president of North Macedonia
47:15 refuses to honor the Brespa Agreement
47:17 and to use the new name of the country.
47:19 As you know, President Biden has signed an executive order
47:23 which lists the obstruction of the Brespa Agreement
47:27 as a sanctionable offense.
47:28 Can you please clarify whether the rhetoric
47:31 of elected officials who refuse to use
47:34 the proper name of the country meets
47:36 the threshold for the sanctions that are
47:39 listed in this executive order?
47:40 So we're firmly committed to the Brespa Agreement
47:43 and North Macedonia's Euro-Atlantic integration.
47:46 A new government is formed and a prime minister is selected.
47:49 As a new government is formed and a prime minister is
47:51 selected, we will continue to reinforce
47:53 the importance of adherence to international agreements
47:56 and the benefits of full membership
47:59 in the European Union.
48:00 Sean, I see your hand go up.
48:01 Go ahead.
48:02 Sure.
48:03 Can I go to Africa?
48:04 Sure.
48:04 Two things.
48:06 Niger, the junta's prime minister
48:09 gave an interview to The Washington Post in which he
48:12 blamed a visit by Assistant Secretary Fi for the decision
48:18 to boot out US troops, saying that she
48:22 made threats about Niger's relationship with Iran
48:25 and Russia and called it unacceptable.
48:27 Do you dispute the characterization of this?
48:29 Do you have any comment?
48:30 So I'm not going to get into the specifics
48:31 of our diplomatic deliberative conversations, Sean.
48:36 But what I can say is that the CNSP was presented
48:39 with a choice based on mutual interest
48:42 about whether it wished to continue its security
48:44 partnership with us, a choice that
48:47 was rooted in our belief of democratic principles
48:52 and what was in our national security interest.
48:55 And this message that was conveyed,
48:57 it was a coordinated US government position.
49:01 And it was in response to very valid concerns
49:04 about the unfolding situation in Niger.
49:08 And after discussions with the CNSP
49:10 about our concerns and its own, we
49:13 have not been able to come to an understanding that
49:15 would allow the United States to maintain
49:17 its military presence in Niger.
49:20 And we're currently working with the CNSP
49:23 to withdraw US forces in an orderly and responsible
49:26 fashion.
49:27 Do you have a timeline for that?
49:29 Are there any US visits?
49:31 I don't have any visits to preview at this time.
49:33 But I imagine these conversations
49:35 are going to be ongoing.
49:37 OK, unless anybody else has more on Niger,
49:39 could I ask about Tunisia?
49:40 Sure.
49:41 There's been a crackdown on lawyers and the Bar
49:44 Association in response to some see
49:47 this as a further crushing of dissent under President Said.
49:51 Does the US have any comment on what's
49:54 happening with the lawyers in Tunisia?
49:56 So I've seen those reports that Tunisian government entities
50:01 have entered the office of the Tunisian Bar Association
50:04 and arrested a number of prominent media figures
50:07 and detained civil society representatives in recent days.
50:10 We're engaging directly with the Tunisian government
50:12 at all levels in support of human rights,
50:15 including the freedom of expression.
50:17 I will say that this kind of action
50:20 is inconsistent with what we think
50:24 are universal rights that are explicitly guaranteed
50:28 in the Tunisian constitution.
50:30 And we've been clear about that at all levels.
50:33 Go ahead in the back.
50:35 Can I just clarify, given what the ICG has said
50:40 and a number of international organizations
50:42 have said about genocide, referring to the question
50:44 earlier, is it the US position that Israel
50:47 can't be committing genocide because of what
50:49 happened on October the 7th?
50:50 That is not what I have said or any official in the US
50:55 government has said.
50:56 What I am saying is that we have not
50:59 assessed the situation in Gaza to be genocide.
51:04 Go ahead.
51:06 Russian President Putin will visit China later this week.
51:10 To be his first foreign trip, a new term as a president.
51:14 So what do you expect?
51:16 Are you concerned China-Russia tie will be much closer?
51:19 Why not?
51:20 So I've seen those reports.
51:22 And if China purports to want good relations with Europe
51:28 and other countries, it cannot continue
51:30 to fuel the biggest threat to European security.
51:34 And that is Russia's aggression on Ukraine.
51:37 The importance of this is not just a US position,
51:41 but it's also been clearly communicated
51:42 from our partners in the G7 to our partners
51:45 in NATO and from the EU.
51:48 If the PRC were to end its support for Russia,
51:51 Russia would struggle to sustain its war efforts against Ukraine.
51:56 And no country should give Putin a platform
51:59 to promote his war of aggression against Ukraine.
52:01 We cannot return to business as usual
52:03 or turn a blind eye to the clear violations of international law
52:07 that Russia has committed.
52:09 Thanks, everybody.
52:10 Thank you.
52:10 Thank you.
52:12 All right, thanks everybody.
52:13 - Thank you.