[ad_1]
The next is a transcript of an interview with Nationwide Safety Adviser Jake Sullivan that aired on Oct. 29, 2023.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We go now to White Home Nationwide Safety Adviser Jake Sullivan. Jake, good morning to you.
JAKE SULLIVAN: Good morning, Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Does the US know if the roughly 5 to 6 hundred People in Gaza have survived the previous 23 days of bombing and have the hostages?
JAKE SULLIVAN: We’re in common contact with a lot of the People who’re in Gaza. We will not say each single one, however all the ones who attain out to us we observe up with regularly, even generally a every day foundation. And so we all know that a lot of them are nonetheless there, nonetheless ready to get out. And we’re working actively to attempt to make that occur. The problem proper now, Margaret, is that the Egyptians are ready to let People and different overseas nationals out of Gaza. The Israelis haven’t any subject with that. However Hamas is stopping their departure and making a sequence of calls for. We’re making an attempt to work by that to create a circumstance the place all the People who’re in Gaza are capable of get out. It’s a precedence for the President. He has no larger precedence than their secure passage out. And he’ll proceed to work at it till it’s achieved.
MARGARET BRENNAN: This morning the Palestinian Pink Crescent stated it obtained threats from the quote occupation authorities to evacuate al Quds Hospital in Gaza, as a result of it’ll be bombarded. Is that correct? Is that hospital a army goal?
JAKE SULLIVAN: I’ve not heard that. So I can not affirm that or deny that somehow. What I can inform you is that hospitals are crucial civilian infrastructure. Underneath worldwide humanitarian legislation hospitals shouldn’t be focused. They aren’t army targets.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’ll watch that growing story. Let me ask you about Israel and the way it has defined its mission to the US authorities. Saturday their army stated it dedicated it killed a Hamas chief who had overseen the drone strikes and the paragliders who carried out that horrific assault on October 7, they’d already introduced that they’d killed the commander of forces liable for the bloodbath at kibbutz Nirim, and one other key Hamas commander. Have they advised you but at which level they may declare this mission successful?
JAKE SULLIVAN: Nicely, they’ve declared they’ve advised us in broad phrases that ensuring that Hamas can by no means once more threaten Israel in the way in which it threatened Israel earlier than is their core strategic goal on this battle. However when it comes to what the precise milestones are, that’s one thing that finally is as much as Israel, that is their army operation, they may make that call. And we’ll proceed to ask the arduous questions, Margaret, that we’d ask of ourselves in a army operation like this, what precisely are the aims? How are the means matched to the aims? And the way will this evolve over time? That is a dialog we have been having. It is a dialog we’ll proceed to have within the days forward.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So it seems like that endgame has not been particularly laid out. Do you anticipate at this level, a full scale Israeli invasion and occupation of Gaza? Or is that off the desk?
JAKE SULLIVAN: Nicely, I will let the Israeli Protection Forces converse to what their operational planning is. And I am not going to characterize it on tv right this moment. What I’ll say is that america has been very targeted on a core problem right here, which is that Hamas is utilizing civilians as human shields, they’re hiding behind civilians, they’re hiding amongst civilians. They’re placing rockets and different terrorist infrastructure in civilian areas. That creates an added burden for the Israeli Protection Forces. But it surely doesn’t reduce their accountability to tell apart between terrorists and harmless civilians and to guard the lives of harmless civilians as they conduct this army operation. That is true of hanging from the air. It’s true of getting into on the bottom, and that is one thing that we discuss with the Israelis every day.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I perceive. However I additionally perceive now that there was an amazing quantity of loss of life in Gaza. I do know President Biden stated the opposite day, he has no confidence within the numbers introduced by Palestinian authorities in Gaza. However I ponder at which level does the US say there must be some cess-cessation of violence?
JAKE SULLIVAN: Nicely, first President Biden was making a simple level, which is that the actual establishment, the Gaza well being ministry, which is run by Hamas, we will not take what Hamas says at face worth. However we now have additionally been clear, repeatedly, that we now have seen hundreds of Palestinian civilians killed on this battle. That- that may be a tragedy. Every a type of particular person deaths is a tragedy, and that the life of each civilian, Palestinian, Israeli, anybody is sacred and needs to be protected. And that, as I stated earlier than to you, Margaret, the truth that Hamas is utilizing individuals as human shields doesn’t reduce the accountability on Israel to attempt to put heck, these civilians from the viewpoint of a ceasefire, what Israel suffered on October seventh was the equal of fifteen 9/11’s. After 9/11, if the terrorists had merely stated, We wish a ceasefire, I do not suppose america would have stated, We’re gonna cease going after terrorists. Now, it was vital for us, and it’s important for Israel, to tell apart between going after terrorist targets, to take out terrorists who proceed to threaten Israel, and going after civilians. That’s an obligation and a accountability for Israel. And it is one thing that we’ll proceed to press them on. We additionally imagine that there needs to be humanitarian pauses to get hostages out, doubtlessly to get assist in and we’ll proceed to work towards that finish.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I do know, Jake, I’ve heard this. And albeit, a number of the language is somewhat contradictory, or it sounds that manner, as a result of Secretary Blinken stated, even a brief pause and bombing would profit Hamas. He stated that on this program final week. Then a couple of days later, he went to the UN and stated a humanitarian pause have to be thought-about, then the US on the UN voted in opposition to a humanitarian truce. So what precisely is the Biden administration calling for right here as a result of everybody from the Pope to the World Well being Group to the UN is saying, simply cease the violence for a time period no less than.
JAKE SULLIVAN: Nicely, what lots of people are calling for is only a cease to Israeli army motion in opposition to terrorists interval. Simply cease no extra Israel can’t go after terrorists who performed this largest bloodbath of Jews for the reason that Holocaust, and who proceed to fireside rockets and proceed to assault Israel. We have now taken the place that Israel has a proper to defend itself in opposition to terrorist assaults. That’s totally different from what Secretary Blinken spoke about, which was a humanitarian pause. A pause within the preventing, for instance, so that there is a time period the place there will be secure passage of hostages.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So only a hours–
JAKE SULLIVAN: President Biden and his complete group are working extraordinarily arduous to get these hostages out. We are going to proceed to try this. I will not put a timeframe on it. However I’ll say that given the variety of hostages, it will be extra than simply hours if we have been capable of safe their launch, and we’re actively working to safe their launch. And equally, when Secretary Blinken stated that any pause and preventing advantages Hamas, that is a actuality. There are plenty of difficult realities on this, a humanitarian pause could be factor to get hostages out. However you may guess that Hamas will attempt to use that point to their benefit as nicely. These are the issues that Israel is making an attempt to grapple with. And these are additionally the arduous questions that we are attempting to pose to Israel as it really works to prosecute a marketing campaign in opposition to Hamas, whereas we press them to ensure to tell apart between Hamas and the Palestinian individuals who Hamas doesn’t symbolize and the Palestinian individuals need to reside lives of security, dignity and equality.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So to that time, Benny Gantz, who’s a part of the Netanyahu struggle cupboard stated, “We are going to take heed to our buddies, however we’ll act in accordance with what is true for us.” Is there any daylight Jake, between the US and the Netanyahu authorities proper now?
JAKE SULLIVAN: We have now conversations like buddies do on the arduous questions that I talked about earlier than, on points related to humanitarian assist, on distinguishing between terrorists and harmless civilians, on how Israel’s considering by its army operation. These conversations occur a number of instances a day, they occur between the President and the Prime Minister. They occur by the Secretary of State, Secretary of Protection myself, different senior members of our administration. We speak candidly, we speak instantly, we share our views and an unvarnished manner, and we’ll proceed to try this. However sitting right here in public, I’ll simply say that america goes to make its rules and propositions completely clear, together with the sanctity of harmless human life. After which we’ll proceed to supply our recommendation to Israel in non-public.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I perceive that is one other nation’s selections right here. However the US offers greater than $3 billion a 12 months in assist to Israel, a few of these weapons being utilized in Gaza are bought or assist to be bought with US taxpayer funds. So whether or not it is meant or not, to a number of the world, it seems just like the US is endorsing all of what Israel is doing right here. Are you in any respect asking the army to be extra restricted in its ways or extra strategic?
JAKE SULLIVAN: The US of America once we switch weapons to a different nation, whether or not it is Israel or anybody else, requests, requires an assurance that these weapons can be utilized in accordance with the legislation of armed battle, and we search accountability to make sure that that’s the case, we’ll proceed to try this. We may even work across the clock to attempt to be sure that life saving humanitarian help will get to individuals in want. And so america will set out its coverage and its rules as a sovereign nation, Israel will make its selections as a sovereign nation. However essentially, what President Biden says, how he has described issues from the viewpoint of civilian safety, entry to life saving items and drugs for civilians, that is the place america stands. And we don’t stand for the killing of harmless individuals, whether or not it’s Palestinian, Israeli or in any other case. And we weep and grieve for each final life and can proceed to take action.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Is that going to be your message to Saudi Arabia’s Protection Minister, once you meet tomorrow? I do know, , numerous Arab companions are involved in regards to the degree of violence in Gaza proper now.
JAKE SULLIVAN: We have been speaking to our Arab companions, together with to Saudi Arabia, in regards to the unfolding disaster in Gaza. We take heed to them rigorously. We share our perspective. And sure, we may have the chance to dive deep, not simply on what is occurring right this moment, however on what tomorrow may deliver. As a result of what President Biden stated within the Rose Backyard this previous week, was that we will not return to October sixth, meaning Hamas can now not terrorize Israel. But it surely additionally signifies that there must be a political horizon for the Palestinian individuals, two states for 2 peoples, the appropriate of Palestinians to reside in security, dignity and equality. And we will work in the direction of that. And Arab states, together with Saudi Arabia have a task and a accountability in that as nicely.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Earlier than I allow you to go, do you now imagine Iran is deterred?
JAKE SULLIVAN: Nicely, what I imagine is that america will observe by on what we are saying we will do. We stated that if our troops have been attacked, we’d reply, we responded. In the event that they’re attacked once more, we’ll reply once more. And we’re vigilant, as a result of we’re seeing elevated threats in opposition to our forces all through the area, and an elevated threat of this battle spreading to different elements of the area. We’re doing all the pieces in our energy to discourage and forestall that. However I am not going to foretell what the long run brings, apart from to say that if we’re attacked, we’ll reply.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Jake Sullivan, thanks in your time. And Face the Nation. We’ll be again in a single minute. Stick with us.
[ad_2]
Source link