At a State Department press briefing on Wednesday, Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel was asked about
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NewsTranscript
00:00Do you have any comment on the two Al Jazeera journalists, Ismail and Rami, who were killed
00:07in an Israeli airstrike today in northern Gaza?
00:11This raises to the number of journalists and media personnel killed in Gaza to 165.
00:16What is your reaction?
00:17MR RATHKE.
00:18So we've seen those reports and are tracking the details.
00:21We're also – have asked our counterparts in the region for additional information should
00:28they have it.
00:29And as the Secretary himself has said, we offer our deep condolences to the many Palestinian
00:35journalists in Gaza killed or injured during this war and for all that they have suffered.
00:41As I said, we are continuing to engage with the Government of Israel and the IDF on the
00:45importance of protecting journalists and all civilians during the conflict.
00:49We believe that journalists have been integral to shedding a light on the dire, dire circumstances
00:57in the Gaza Strip right now, and we have been absolutely clear that Israel has a moral
01:02obligation and a strategic imperative to protect civilians.
01:05And of course, part of that includes journalists, but I don't have any more as it relates
01:10to this specific – yeah.
01:11Just a quick follow-up.
01:12You said you ask Israel for more information.
01:14There have been many incidents over the past nine months that you ask Israel to provide
01:20more information.
01:21Can you give us one example of how Israel can get that strongly?
01:23I'm not going to get into the – I'm not going to get into – I'm not going
01:26to get into specific diplomatic conversations, but there have been a number of instances
01:32in which we have asked our partners in Israel for additional information in which they have
01:37provided it, they have shed light on the nature of those operations and how they were conducted.
01:44We will continue to engage with those conversations privately with our partners in Israel and
01:48publicly when needed.
01:49Fran, go ahead.
01:50I will have a long Middle East question later, if I can.
01:53I'm sure you will.
01:54Prem, go ahead.
01:56Said.
01:57Said.
01:58Said.
01:59Said.
02:00Said.
02:01Said.
02:02Said.
02:03I understand that you are very passionate about this issue.
02:05It is not helpful for you to interrupt your colleagues.
02:07Okay, I'm sorry, but I'm saying – I'm just making a point that this particular
02:10journalist was actually arrested and tortured by the Israelis.
02:12I understand.
02:13I understand.
02:14I appreciate your flag, but you interrupting your colleagues is not productive to the daily
02:20press briefing process.
02:21Prem, go ahead.
02:22Thank you, Matt.
02:23So perhaps this is a good follow-up here.
02:24It's been 184 days now since the Israeli forces killed Henry Jabb, her family, and
02:25medics sent to save her.
02:26Last month, when myself and other colleagues asked about the investigation into this, the
02:27department said Israel – Israel said that they're still investigating and that Israel
02:28also said that the UN and Red Crescent did not respond to outreach from the Israeli government.
02:29I reached out to the Red Crescent and they said that, no, the Israeli government did
02:30not reach out.
02:31So has the Biden-Harris administration followed up on this?
02:32Has the White House followed up on this?
02:33Has the White House followed up on this?
02:34Has the White House followed up on this?
02:35Has the White House followed up on this?
02:36Has the White House followed up on this?
02:37on this?
02:38Has the White House followed up on this?
02:39Has the White House followed up on this?
02:40Has the White House followed up on this?
02:41Has the White House followed up on this?
02:42Has the White House followed up on this?
02:43Has the White House followed up on this?
02:44Has the White House followed up on this?
02:45Has the White House followed up on this?
02:46Has the White House followed up on this?
02:47Has the White House followed up on this?
02:48Has the White House followed up on this?
02:49Has the White House followed up on this?
02:50Has the White House followed up on this?
02:51Has the White House followed up on this?
02:52Has the White House followed up on this?
02:53Has the White House followed up on this?
02:54Has the White House followed up on this?
02:55Has the White House followed up on this?
02:56Has the White House followed up on this?
02:57Has the White House followed up on this?
02:58Has the White House followed up on this?
02:59Has the White House followed up on this?
03:00Has the White House followed up on this?
03:01Has the White House followed up on this?
03:02Has the White House followed up on this?
03:03Has the White House followed up on this?
03:04Has the White House followed up on this?
03:05Has the White House followed up on this?
03:06Has the White House followed up on this?
03:07Has the White House followed up on this?
03:08Has the White House followed up on this?
03:09Has the White House followed up on this?
03:10Has the White House followed up on this?
03:11Has the White House followed up on this?
03:12Has the White House followed up on this?
03:13Has the White House followed up on this?
03:14Has the White House followed up on this?
03:15Has the White House followed up on this?
03:16Has the White House followed up on this?
03:17QUESTIONS.
03:18So I had reached out to the Israeli Government as well and – while I was reaching out to
03:21the Red Cress, and they said they would give back to me with an answer, and that did not
03:24after we reported to the Red Cress and said that is – they were fact-checked.
03:27MR RATHKE.
03:28Well, it's really – I'm not.
03:29I'm just wondering –
03:30QUESTION.
03:31No, right.
03:32Of course.
03:33Just given that this government gives them billions of dollars in aid, I imagine that
03:36such claims wouldn't be fact-checked?
03:37MR RATHKE.
03:38So we will continue to engage with our partners in Israel.
03:41We ask them for additional information.
03:44We ask questions when we see incidents unfold and we'll continue to do that.
03:48As it relates to this incident, I'm not aware of any updates and I believe this investigation
03:52is ongoing.
03:53Okay.
03:54And one...