WEBVTT 00:02.690 --> 00:06.030 Good afternoon , everyone . Happy 00:06.039 --> 00:08.770 Valentine's Day , especially especially 00:09.029 --> 00:11.140 Happy Valentine's Day to those of you 00:11.140 --> 00:12.918 celebrating with us on a flight 00:12.918 --> 00:14.918 somewhere over the Atlantic tonight 00:14.918 --> 00:17.251 instead of with your significant others , 00:17.251 --> 00:17.049 wish you peace and tranquility at home . 00:17.329 --> 00:20.739 Um With that , you know , Matt Sean , 00:20.750 --> 00:22.417 do you wanna go first ? Happy 00:22.510 --> 00:24.566 Valentine's Day to you ? Thank you . 00:24.566 --> 00:27.579 Thank you . Uh uh uh I wanted to ask 00:27.590 --> 00:29.757 you about to start off of the uh the , 00:29.757 --> 00:31.757 the talks in Cairo that , that took 00:31.757 --> 00:33.923 place recently that , that are in some 00:33.923 --> 00:35.923 form . Uh I know there's a limit to 00:35.923 --> 00:38.257 probably what you're gonna say about it . 00:38.257 --> 00:37.639 But do you um do you have any 00:37.650 --> 00:39.761 assessment right now about how things 00:39.761 --> 00:41.817 stand ? Is the US still hopeful that 00:41.817 --> 00:43.928 there could be a deal uh for hostages 00:43.928 --> 00:46.150 at a positive point ? A a as has always 00:46.150 --> 00:48.372 been the case . I don't want to kind of 00:48.372 --> 00:50.706 give , give a day by day , step by step , 00:50.706 --> 00:52.928 update or assessment on the talks or um 00:52.928 --> 00:55.039 the status of them or , or , or where 00:55.039 --> 00:57.150 they might stand . Um But we continue 00:57.150 --> 00:59.372 to believe that uh uh it is possible to 00:59.372 --> 01:01.594 achieve a deal . We continue to believe 01:01.594 --> 01:03.817 it's in the national security interests 01:03.817 --> 01:06.094 of the United States to achieve a deal . 01:06.094 --> 01:05.500 And we believe if it's in the interests 01:05.510 --> 01:07.343 of both Israel and of course the 01:07.343 --> 01:09.121 Palestinian people . So we will 01:09.121 --> 01:11.949 continue to work to um try and achieve 01:11.959 --> 01:14.181 an agreement that would not just secure 01:14.181 --> 01:16.515 the release of hostages , but of course , 01:16.515 --> 01:16.430 enable , allow a pause that would 01:16.440 --> 01:18.569 enable the delivery of humanitarian 01:18.580 --> 01:20.610 assistance that would alleviate the 01:20.620 --> 01:23.839 suffering on the ground in Gaza , not 01:23.870 --> 01:26.019 to jump around you . But um I was 01:26.029 --> 01:27.918 wondering if you could comment on 01:27.918 --> 01:29.973 today's developments in Lebanon . Um 01:29.973 --> 01:32.029 There's some strikes there from from 01:32.029 --> 01:34.085 the Israeli side in particular . How 01:34.085 --> 01:36.307 dangerous is the situation in Lebanon ? 01:36.307 --> 01:38.085 Do you have any any reaction in 01:38.085 --> 01:40.085 particular to the use of force ? We 01:40.085 --> 01:41.807 continue to be concerned about 01:41.807 --> 01:43.973 escalation in Lebanon as you know , it 01:43.973 --> 01:46.140 has been one of our primary objectives 01:46.140 --> 01:48.362 from the outset of this conflict to see 01:48.362 --> 01:50.585 that it not be widened , to see that it 01:50.585 --> 01:52.418 not be escalated in any way that 01:52.418 --> 01:54.362 continues to be a primary national 01:54.362 --> 01:56.585 security objective of ours that we will 01:56.585 --> 01:58.807 continue to pursue . Um and we continue 01:58.807 --> 01:58.739 to believe that there is a diplomatic 01:58.750 --> 02:01.110 path forward and we will continue to 02:01.120 --> 02:03.620 push forward to uh try to resolve this 02:03.629 --> 02:06.269 issue diplomatically . So uh both 02:06.279 --> 02:08.610 Israelis and Lebanese can return to 02:08.619 --> 02:10.841 their homes . Is there active diplomacy 02:10.841 --> 02:13.160 in Lebanon ? There is active diplomacy . 02:13.169 --> 02:15.280 There's been active diplomacy on this 02:15.280 --> 02:17.558 question for some time . I'm of course , 02:17.558 --> 02:16.990 never going to get into the , the 02:17.000 --> 02:19.167 underlying details of those diplomatic 02:19.167 --> 02:21.111 conversations . But we continue to 02:21.111 --> 02:23.222 pursue diplomatic resolution and just 02:23.222 --> 02:25.444 one more before you'll suggest the , uh 02:26.050 --> 02:27.994 I'm sure you saw and I believe the 02:27.994 --> 02:29.994 national security adviser was asked 02:29.994 --> 02:29.979 about it , but I wanted to ask you the , 02:29.990 --> 02:32.101 the report from the Ulster on , on uh 02:32.101 --> 02:35.149 on uh use in Lebanon . Is there 02:35.160 --> 02:37.327 anything you can say whether the State 02:37.327 --> 02:39.327 Department is actually ? Uh so as I 02:39.327 --> 02:41.549 said yesterday , we do continue to , we 02:41.549 --> 02:43.899 are reviewing uh reports of human 02:43.910 --> 02:45.910 rights violations and civilian harm 02:45.910 --> 02:48.029 incidents uh uh through the chart 02:48.039 --> 02:50.095 process that we set up last August . 02:50.095 --> 02:51.872 I'm not going to comment on the 02:51.872 --> 02:54.095 specifics of any one incident . We take 02:54.095 --> 02:56.206 these on a case by case me uh measure 02:56.206 --> 02:58.317 and assess them to see whether number 02:58.317 --> 03:00.539 one civilian harm actually occurred and 03:00.539 --> 03:02.706 two to identify any appropriate policy 03:02.706 --> 03:04.483 responses if it has occurred to 03:04.483 --> 03:06.650 mitigate such uh uh to , to reduce the 03:06.650 --> 03:08.872 risk of such incidents happening in the 03:08.872 --> 03:11.039 future . But we are going to make it a 03:11.039 --> 03:13.150 uh as a kind of blanket policy not to 03:13.150 --> 03:15.317 confirm specific incidents that may be 03:15.317 --> 03:19.050 under review . Thank you . I wanna ask 03:19.059 --> 03:21.281 you a couple of questions on Gaza , but 03:21.281 --> 03:23.337 first I wanted to ask you about what 03:23.337 --> 03:25.448 the Israelis today demolished a house 03:25.449 --> 03:28.699 for Fri uh Abu Diab . He's uh an 03:28.710 --> 03:31.210 activist against demolition to ba 03:31.250 --> 03:35.100 basically make room for Biblical 03:35.110 --> 03:37.277 Theme park . Do you have any comment . 03:37.277 --> 03:40.929 Uh We condemn the demolition of Fri Abu 03:41.169 --> 03:43.399 Dab's home . Uh He is a community 03:43.410 --> 03:46.289 leader in East Jerusalem . Uh We 03:46.300 --> 03:48.133 believe that demolition not only 03:48.133 --> 03:51.110 obviously damages uh his home and his 03:51.119 --> 03:53.119 family and the lives that they have 03:53.130 --> 03:55.297 built there , but the entire community 03:55.297 --> 03:57.408 who live in fear that their homes may 03:57.408 --> 03:59.630 be next . Um This has been their family 03:59.630 --> 04:01.741 home for generations . Uh Part of the 04:01.741 --> 04:04.104 structure dates back to before 1967 . 04:04.134 --> 04:06.078 He has been an outspoken community 04:06.078 --> 04:08.245 leader , including against demolitions 04:08.245 --> 04:10.467 and now his family has been displaced . 04:10.467 --> 04:12.690 Uh But I wanna , I I would also like to 04:12.690 --> 04:14.634 reiterate that the impact of these 04:14.634 --> 04:16.745 demolitions . This is obviously not . 04:16.745 --> 04:18.856 The first goes beyond just the impact 04:18.856 --> 04:21.023 on this individual family . These acts 04:21.023 --> 04:24.679 obstruct efforts to advance a durable 04:24.690 --> 04:27.000 and lasting peace , peace and security 04:27.010 --> 04:28.566 that would benefit not just 04:28.566 --> 04:30.510 Palestinians , but Israelis , they 04:30.510 --> 04:32.709 damage Israel's standing in the world 04:32.959 --> 04:36.100 and they make it ultimately um more 04:36.109 --> 04:38.429 difficult for us to accomplish all of 04:38.440 --> 04:40.607 the things we are trying to accomplish 04:40.607 --> 04:42.384 that would ultimately be in the 04:42.384 --> 04:44.496 interests of the Israeli people . And 04:44.496 --> 04:44.200 so we condemn them and we'll urge them 04:44.209 --> 04:46.420 to continue to urge uh that they not 04:46.429 --> 04:48.950 continue . Well , you know , sir , is 04:48.959 --> 04:51.420 really adjacent to my neighborhood . So 04:51.429 --> 04:53.690 I know I know that the area I know how 04:53.700 --> 04:55.922 many people have been , have lost their 04:55.922 --> 04:57.756 homes , how many homes have been 04:57.756 --> 04:59.756 demolished . But there's a way they 04:59.756 --> 05:01.978 seem to have , you know , a method plan 05:01.978 --> 05:04.033 vote going forward . I know that you 05:04.033 --> 05:06.750 condemn , but do you , do you condemn 05:06.760 --> 05:10.119 saying what or else ? So you , you , 05:10.130 --> 05:12.297 you must stop this and you must , they 05:12.297 --> 05:14.352 should not demolish anybody's home , 05:14.352 --> 05:16.519 not even for , you know , as a form of 05:16.519 --> 05:18.574 collective punishment if someone has 05:18.574 --> 05:20.741 done something from the household . So 05:20.741 --> 05:22.741 we condemn them and let me tell you 05:22.741 --> 05:25.019 what we are offering as an alternative . 05:25.019 --> 05:27.074 So the secretary has made clear that 05:27.074 --> 05:29.241 after conversations with others in the 05:29.241 --> 05:31.352 region , that there is a path forward 05:31.352 --> 05:33.352 an alternative path to the one that 05:33.352 --> 05:35.540 that um uh Israel has pursued to date 05:35.769 --> 05:37.880 to provide lasting peace and security 05:37.880 --> 05:39.880 for Israel and it would include the 05:39.880 --> 05:43.359 establishment of two states . Um And we 05:43.369 --> 05:45.480 will continue to pursue that path and 05:45.480 --> 05:47.647 we have made clear and other countries 05:47.647 --> 05:49.702 in the region including Saudi Arabia 05:49.702 --> 05:51.925 have made clear that there are enormous 05:51.925 --> 05:51.630 benefits on offer for the Israeli 05:51.640 --> 05:53.751 people . Should they pursue that path 05:53.751 --> 05:55.918 including uh uh in further integration 05:55.918 --> 05:57.862 in the region , including security 05:57.862 --> 05:59.918 guarantees . And so when it comes to 05:59.918 --> 06:02.084 all of these types of issues , what we 06:02.084 --> 06:04.251 will continue to lay out is the vision 06:04.251 --> 06:06.362 that we think is a better path , as I 06:06.362 --> 06:08.362 said , not just for the Palestinian 06:08.362 --> 06:10.584 people , but ultimately , that provides 06:10.584 --> 06:10.410 greater security benefits for the 06:10.420 --> 06:12.609 Israeli people as well . Now on the 06:12.619 --> 06:16.269 looming or the expected attack on 06:16.350 --> 06:19.619 Rafa , I know that uh the president , 06:19.630 --> 06:22.170 the Secretary of state you from this 06:22.179 --> 06:24.660 podium many times over warned against 06:24.670 --> 06:28.040 such a , you know , such a storm of 06:28.049 --> 06:30.869 Rafa . But on the other hand , I mean , 06:30.880 --> 06:33.179 one reads reports and so on that , ok , 06:33.190 --> 06:36.290 by not doing anything or by not saying 06:36.380 --> 06:38.547 that there will be consequences if you 06:38.547 --> 06:40.380 do this , you're basically green 06:40.380 --> 06:42.602 lighting or , you know , giving a green 06:42.602 --> 06:44.824 light , there is ways to go ahead and , 06:44.824 --> 06:47.420 you know , we , we don't like it but 06:47.579 --> 06:49.912 we're not going to do anything about it . 06:49.912 --> 06:52.135 I , I think that would be a significant 06:52.135 --> 06:54.820 misinterpretation of what we have said . 06:54.829 --> 06:56.607 We have made quite clear , both 06:56.607 --> 06:58.718 publicly and privately that we cannot 06:58.718 --> 07:01.739 support any military operation in Rafah 07:02.130 --> 07:04.380 until such time as Israel has developed 07:04.390 --> 07:06.350 a humanitarian plan that can be 07:06.359 --> 07:08.415 executed and that they have executed 07:08.415 --> 07:10.581 such a plan . So I know people like to 07:10.581 --> 07:12.581 jump ahead far into the process and 07:12.581 --> 07:14.748 talk about what ifs , but we're not at 07:14.748 --> 07:16.859 the what ifs stage right now . We are 07:16.859 --> 07:19.081 at the making very clear to Israel what 07:19.081 --> 07:21.248 we expect stage . And we have seen the 07:21.248 --> 07:23.359 government of Israel ask the military 07:23.359 --> 07:25.526 for such a plan . We haven't seen that 07:25.526 --> 07:24.765 plan yet . We don't know it will 07:24.774 --> 07:26.885 contain . We don't know if it will be 07:26.885 --> 07:29.214 uh uh uh executable as we have said . 07:29.225 --> 07:31.225 So we will wait before offering any 07:31.225 --> 07:34.125 prejudgments about what will or may or 07:34.135 --> 07:36.454 might or might not happen . We're gonna 07:36.464 --> 07:38.575 wait to see what that plan looks like 07:38.575 --> 07:40.464 and then engage directly with the 07:40.464 --> 07:39.984 government of Israel about it . So 07:39.994 --> 07:42.161 you're saying , yeah , you can do this 07:42.161 --> 07:44.272 with the caveat that you have to make 07:44.272 --> 07:47.179 sure that the population , the civilian 07:47.190 --> 07:49.134 population is not armed or somehow 07:49.140 --> 07:51.029 moves from place to place . Now , 07:51.029 --> 07:52.973 remember these , these people have 07:52.973 --> 07:55.196 already been moved there . They've been 07:55.339 --> 07:57.290 uh you know , instructed by the 07:57.299 --> 07:59.410 Israelis to go through us . You don't 07:59.410 --> 08:01.577 have to tell me , remember I said that 08:01.577 --> 08:03.743 myself from this podium , I remember , 08:03.743 --> 08:03.480 but this is the thing , I mean , it's , 08:03.489 --> 08:06.010 it's deja vu , you know , all over 08:06.019 --> 08:08.241 again , which is why we have made clear 08:08.241 --> 08:10.297 that there has to be a plan . Look , 08:10.297 --> 08:12.670 there are , there are Hamas , there are , 08:12.679 --> 08:14.679 as I said yesterday , there are two 08:14.679 --> 08:16.957 things that are true in this situation , 08:16.957 --> 08:16.570 right ? One that there are Hamas 08:16.579 --> 08:18.959 battalions that operate in Rafah . 08:18.989 --> 08:21.100 There exist in Rafah that continue to 08:21.100 --> 08:23.267 pose a threat to the national security 08:23.267 --> 08:25.433 of Israel . Hamas battalions , part of 08:25.433 --> 08:27.489 an organization that attacked Israel 08:27.489 --> 08:26.809 and has made clear they want to 08:26.820 --> 08:29.320 continue to attack Israel at the same 08:29.329 --> 08:31.730 time . So , so I'd say as a , as a 08:31.739 --> 08:33.850 first matter , of course , Israel has 08:33.850 --> 08:35.739 the right to take military action 08:35.739 --> 08:37.739 against those Hamas battalions that 08:37.739 --> 08:40.017 pose a threat to it . At the same time , 08:40.017 --> 08:42.072 they have an obligation to make sure 08:42.072 --> 08:44.295 that they only do so in a way that puts 08:44.295 --> 08:46.517 civilian protection first . And that is 08:46.517 --> 08:46.090 what we have made clear to them . And 08:46.099 --> 08:48.266 so we will see the plan that they will 08:48.266 --> 08:50.099 develop and I will wait and pass 08:50.099 --> 08:53.890 judgment until we see that topics 08:54.469 --> 08:57.520 is given the recent debate in this town 08:57.690 --> 09:00.229 today disclosed that its defense 09:00.239 --> 09:03.219 spending hits high , record , record 09:03.229 --> 09:06.830 high , 18 members hit the 09:06.840 --> 09:10.809 2% . OK , not the goal or you know , 09:10.820 --> 09:13.419 or anyone , any money . But uh can you 09:13.429 --> 09:15.096 speak to this in part of this 09:15.096 --> 09:16.818 development ? Uh We think it's 09:16.818 --> 09:18.818 incredibly important . So look , we 09:18.818 --> 09:20.707 have made clear that um there are 09:20.707 --> 09:22.929 targets that NATO countries have agreed 09:22.929 --> 09:24.985 to that they would spend uh uh 2% of 09:24.985 --> 09:27.207 their budgets on uh national security . 09:27.207 --> 09:27.049 We have made clear that we expect 09:27.059 --> 09:29.170 countries to meet that target . There 09:29.170 --> 09:30.892 is often this misnomer that um 09:30.892 --> 09:32.781 countries pay money to the US and 09:32.781 --> 09:34.948 they're in arrears that of course , is 09:34.948 --> 09:34.650 not factually the case , it's not 09:34.659 --> 09:36.603 factually how it works , but their 09:36.603 --> 09:38.715 defense spending targets that they're 09:38.715 --> 09:40.603 supposed to meet as the Secretary 09:40.603 --> 09:42.715 General announced today . Uh a record 09:42.715 --> 09:44.770 number of those countries uh are now 09:44.770 --> 09:46.992 meeting those targets , 18 , almost two 09:46.992 --> 09:49.159 thirds of the alliance and we continue 09:49.159 --> 09:48.479 to see progress from other countries 09:48.489 --> 09:50.322 towards meeting the uh tho those 09:50.322 --> 09:52.489 targets . And we will um uh urge those 09:52.489 --> 09:54.600 who have not yet met them to continue 09:54.600 --> 09:56.822 to take steps to do so . But again , as 09:56.822 --> 09:58.933 I have said , early as I said earlier 09:58.933 --> 10:01.659 this week , um NATO is an alliance that 10:01.669 --> 10:04.500 the AM the American people derive 10:04.510 --> 10:06.780 tremendous benefit from , provides some 10:06.789 --> 10:08.678 tremendous security to the United 10:08.678 --> 10:10.733 States . And that's why we have seen 10:10.733 --> 10:13.820 durable , long lasting widespread , 10:13.830 --> 10:15.789 widespread support , not just in 10:15.799 --> 10:17.799 Congress , not just from leaders in 10:17.799 --> 10:19.910 Congress , but also from the American 10:19.910 --> 10:22.243 people . And we expect that to continue . 10:22.243 --> 10:22.010 Thank you a couple of queries on , on 10:22.020 --> 10:25.030 sanctions . The US took part today in 10:25.039 --> 10:27.030 Brussels at EU sanctions . Uh 10:27.039 --> 10:29.760 coordinators for this is the first time 10:29.770 --> 10:33.359 if I uh as far I follow um the report 10:33.369 --> 10:36.469 that the EU on its end is considering a 10:36.479 --> 10:39.219 secondary sanctions against uh you know , 10:39.289 --> 10:41.599 uh Central Asia Turkey and other 10:41.849 --> 10:44.020 countries or companies based in those 10:44.030 --> 10:46.252 countries in this next package . I know 10:46.252 --> 10:49.070 you don't telegraph your SAN but can 10:49.090 --> 10:51.359 you , at least I do it in this case , 10:51.669 --> 10:54.419 at least you will not , you follow this 10:54.469 --> 10:57.890 year once they put it out 10:58.109 --> 11:00.645 that what a lot like behind when 11:00.715 --> 11:02.715 Europeans move forward . II I don't 11:02.715 --> 11:05.604 think if you look at um the United 11:05.614 --> 11:08.125 States uh actions in this Guard uh in 11:08.135 --> 11:11.155 this uh uh in this regard , we have 11:11.164 --> 11:13.053 been a leader , we have been in a 11:13.053 --> 11:15.275 forefront in holding Russia accountable 11:15.275 --> 11:15.244 for its actions and we will continue to 11:15.255 --> 11:18.445 be to , to uh to be a leader in this 11:18.455 --> 11:20.789 regard . But of course , as you , I 11:20.869 --> 11:23.091 think new , by the way , you frame your 11:23.091 --> 11:25.202 question , I am not gonna preview any 11:25.202 --> 11:27.425 sanctions action that we may or may not 11:27.425 --> 11:29.369 take on that line . Uh Putin today 11:29.369 --> 11:31.591 signed a confiscation law , uh which uh 11:31.591 --> 11:33.813 you know , experts believe that further 11:33.813 --> 11:35.647 complicates uh you know , uh and 11:35.647 --> 11:37.758 endangers if you want , uh you know , 11:37.758 --> 11:40.036 foreign investment including Americans . 11:40.036 --> 11:42.147 And this is something we discussed uh 11:42.147 --> 11:43.869 in this room before that state 11:43.869 --> 11:45.813 department recently updated uh its 11:45.813 --> 11:48.369 business advisor for Burma . Uh why not 11:48.380 --> 11:51.229 uh imposing the same advisory on Russia ? 11:51.250 --> 11:53.361 I just don't have any update on where 11:53.361 --> 11:55.583 that stands and , and my final question 11:55.583 --> 11:57.639 for you on my own . No , Karabakh uh 11:57.639 --> 11:59.861 Jake Sullivan today uh from White House 11:59.861 --> 12:02.799 Podium announced that uh the conflict 12:02.809 --> 12:06.650 in itself also support for the victims 12:06.659 --> 12:08.826 of the conflict . He said it's part of 12:08.826 --> 12:10.770 the next package is the city about 12:10.770 --> 12:12.937 we're looking for additional resources 12:12.937 --> 12:15.103 and in what form you are trying to get 12:15.103 --> 12:17.103 involved uh additional resources in 12:17.103 --> 12:19.270 what , in what regard the next package 12:19.270 --> 12:21.159 he mentioned that uh the Congress 12:21.159 --> 12:23.326 should support supplemental because it 12:23.326 --> 12:25.437 also covers among other conflict . He 12:25.437 --> 12:27.603 mentioned what additional resources we 12:27.603 --> 12:29.492 see . So the there are additional 12:29.492 --> 12:31.715 resources that were in the supplemental 12:31.715 --> 12:33.937 request for humanitarian assistance . I 12:33.937 --> 12:33.890 didn't see all of the , the National 12:33.900 --> 12:35.956 Security Advisor remarks . I believe 12:35.956 --> 12:37.956 that's what he was referring to . I 12:37.956 --> 12:40.178 suspect I should say that's what he was 12:40.178 --> 12:39.830 referring to , but there was 12:39.934 --> 12:41.990 humanitarian assistance contained in 12:41.990 --> 12:44.156 the , the supplemental request that we 12:44.156 --> 12:46.212 put forward and in the bill that was 12:46.212 --> 12:48.323 passed the Senate that would could be 12:48.323 --> 12:47.955 used by the United States for 12:47.965 --> 12:50.132 humanitarian response to conflicts all 12:50.132 --> 12:52.132 around the world . An update for me 12:52.132 --> 12:54.455 about , uh , additional , uh , efforts 12:54.465 --> 12:56.974 that us , wants to bring together the 12:56.984 --> 12:58.984 sites and to discuss the conflict . 12:58.984 --> 13:01.151 Anything about the next couple of days 13:01.151 --> 13:03.095 weeks , I do not have any schedule 13:03.095 --> 13:05.095 announcements for you . I know what 13:05.095 --> 13:07.262 you're getting at but I'm not going to 13:07.262 --> 13:09.317 bite Alex . I want to go back to the 13:09.317 --> 13:11.373 Lebanese Israeli border if you don't 13:11.373 --> 13:13.428 mind . Yeah . Uh It's clear now that 13:13.428 --> 13:15.428 Hezbollah Hezbollah announced a few 13:15.428 --> 13:17.540 days ago or a couple of days ago that 13:17.540 --> 13:19.469 his war activities or military 13:19.479 --> 13:22.179 activities or engagement in this 13:22.190 --> 13:24.809 conflict is linked to the war and 13:24.820 --> 13:27.090 military activities in Gaza . If there 13:27.099 --> 13:29.043 is a humanitarian policy , he will 13:29.043 --> 13:31.377 oppose . If there is the end of the war , 13:31.377 --> 13:33.543 he will end his activities . Is it the 13:33.549 --> 13:35.520 same diplomatic approach you're 13:35.530 --> 13:37.940 applying to this conflict of the 13:37.950 --> 13:40.659 northern border or you are trying to 13:40.669 --> 13:44.030 push Lebanon , Lebanon to distance some 13:44.080 --> 13:46.247 of the conflict , regardless of that , 13:46.247 --> 13:48.191 we have had specific uh diplomatic 13:48.191 --> 13:50.413 engagements related to the situation at 13:50.413 --> 13:52.679 Israel's northern border . Uh and to 13:52.690 --> 13:55.309 resolving that uh uh that situation 13:55.320 --> 13:58.729 diplomatically um beyond the efforts to 13:58.739 --> 14:00.906 secure humanitarian paths . Now , that 14:00.906 --> 14:02.683 said , uh of course , it is our 14:02.683 --> 14:04.239 assessment that achieving a 14:04.239 --> 14:06.350 humanitarian pause in an agreement to 14:06.350 --> 14:08.406 secure the release of hostages would 14:08.406 --> 14:10.461 help with the risk of escalation and 14:10.461 --> 14:12.461 help uh uh might help uh lessen the 14:12.461 --> 14:14.517 risk of the , of escalation . That's 14:14.517 --> 14:16.517 what one of the many reasons why we 14:16.517 --> 14:18.683 continue to pursue , pursue uh such an 14:18.683 --> 14:20.795 arrangement . Thank you . You touched 14:20.795 --> 14:22.795 on this yesterday . But with the uh 14:22.795 --> 14:24.739 secretary heading to Munich , with 14:24.739 --> 14:26.590 European security and the war in 14:26.599 --> 14:29.020 Ukraine , a focus . Does he find 14:29.030 --> 14:30.974 himself in a difficult negotiating 14:30.974 --> 14:32.830 position with aid to foreign aid 14:32.840 --> 14:35.650 stalled in the house ? And how does he 14:36.070 --> 14:37.792 plan to address this ? And how 14:37.792 --> 14:39.792 confident are you that the aid will 14:39.792 --> 14:41.737 make its way through ? So it's not 14:41.737 --> 14:43.681 really a question of a negotiating 14:43.681 --> 14:45.737 position . I I will say that when it 14:45.737 --> 14:47.969 comes to um uh our European partners , 14:47.979 --> 14:50.140 they have stepped up and made 14:50.150 --> 14:52.094 contributions to Ukraine , I don't 14:52.094 --> 14:54.206 believe because the United States has 14:54.206 --> 14:56.539 made contributions to Ukraine's defense , 14:56.539 --> 14:58.594 but because they see it in their own 14:58.594 --> 15:00.817 independent national security interests 15:00.817 --> 14:59.924 and they have made their own 14:59.934 --> 15:02.101 assessments that it is the right thing 15:02.101 --> 15:04.323 to do both on the merits and that it is 15:04.323 --> 15:06.378 in their , in the interests of their 15:06.378 --> 15:08.434 particular countries . So it's not a 15:08.434 --> 15:10.267 question of the United States uh 15:10.267 --> 15:09.965 needing to negotiate with these 15:09.974 --> 15:12.030 countries . So we of course , always 15:12.030 --> 15:14.252 are encouraging countries to do more if 15:14.252 --> 15:16.363 they can do more . Um But that said , 15:16.363 --> 15:18.474 um we very much do wanna see Congress 15:18.474 --> 15:20.641 Act as quickly as possible to pass the 15:20.641 --> 15:22.863 supplemental as you heard the president 15:22.863 --> 15:25.030 say yesterday . Um uh it's not just in 15:25.030 --> 15:27.363 the interest of Ukraine , but as I said , 15:27.363 --> 15:26.929 it's in the interests of European 15:26.940 --> 15:28.996 countries . It's in the interests of 15:28.996 --> 15:31.218 the United States we believe to do so . 15:31.218 --> 15:33.440 Uh a lot of that money is spent here uh 15:33.440 --> 15:34.940 helps um uh uh develop the 15:34.940 --> 15:37.051 manufacturing base here in the United 15:37.051 --> 15:39.218 States . Uh And so we will continue to 15:39.218 --> 15:40.773 push for the passage of the 15:40.773 --> 15:42.996 supplemental bill . And uh ultimately , 15:42.996 --> 15:44.773 we think , you know , uh as the 15:44.773 --> 15:46.940 president said , the world is watching 15:46.940 --> 15:49.051 and certainly , I'm sure that when we 15:49.051 --> 15:51.162 are in Munich , we will hear directly 15:51.162 --> 15:50.520 from foreign leaders that they are 15:50.530 --> 15:52.752 watching very much . What Congress does 15:52.752 --> 15:54.586 we know the Ukrainian people are 15:54.586 --> 15:56.752 watching . And as the president said , 15:56.752 --> 15:56.390 history is watching as well . 16:00.549 --> 16:03.200 Thank you . Um How is us State 16:03.210 --> 16:05.321 Department tackling the pressure from 16:05.321 --> 16:07.890 some of the US lawmakers who are asking 16:07.960 --> 16:10.127 the State Department not to accept the 16:10.127 --> 16:12.238 results of Pakistan election until an 16:12.238 --> 16:15.190 unlist thoroughly , allegations of 16:15.200 --> 16:17.559 rigging are investigated . So we have 16:17.570 --> 16:19.840 called for those invest those um 16:19.849 --> 16:22.150 allegations to be investigated . We 16:22.159 --> 16:24.159 think that's appropriate to step to 16:24.159 --> 16:26.395 take . Um That's uh that is our 16:26.405 --> 16:29.405 response to questions of irregularities , 16:29.414 --> 16:31.581 not just in Pakistan , but when we see 16:31.581 --> 16:33.692 them anywhere in the world , we think 16:33.692 --> 16:35.358 that they're um uh thoroughly 16:35.358 --> 16:37.470 investigated and resolved and so that 16:37.470 --> 16:39.692 we will continue to call for that . But 16:39.692 --> 16:39.195 at the same time , it's clear that the 16:39.205 --> 16:41.372 elections in Pakistan were competitive 16:41.375 --> 16:43.755 and we look forward to working with the 16:43.765 --> 16:45.876 government . Uh once it's formed that 16:45.876 --> 16:48.043 the , the people of Pakistan elected . 16:49.359 --> 16:51.526 Yeah . Yeah , Sean . Go ahead and then 16:51.526 --> 16:53.637 I'll come back . I mean , of course , 16:53.637 --> 16:55.803 as you've probably seen that there's a 16:55.803 --> 16:58.026 coalition being formed uh in Pakistan , 16:58.026 --> 17:00.248 uh that doesn't include Imran Khan's uh 17:00.248 --> 17:02.303 uh party . Um I know you're probably 17:02.303 --> 17:04.415 loath to talk about the , the details 17:04.415 --> 17:06.359 of Pakistani politics , but you've 17:06.359 --> 17:08.526 noticed . But let me , but II , I want 17:08.526 --> 17:10.470 to be fair loath to talk about the 17:10.470 --> 17:12.470 internal details of politics in any 17:12.470 --> 17:14.637 country . But um uh but but can I just 17:14.637 --> 17:16.803 ask you if the US has an assessment on 17:16.803 --> 17:16.298 this , whether this is in keeping with , 17:16.308 --> 17:18.475 with democratic principles to have the 17:18.475 --> 17:20.629 largest uh winner being excluded from 17:20.639 --> 17:22.806 the uh the original coalition ? Look , 17:22.806 --> 17:25.028 that is ultimately an internal matter . 17:25.028 --> 17:27.139 You see this in a number of countries 17:27.139 --> 17:26.828 that have parliamentary systems of 17:26.838 --> 17:29.298 government where no country has uh or 17:29.308 --> 17:31.030 I'm sorry , where no party has 17:31.030 --> 17:33.252 established a majority . You see the um 17:33.252 --> 17:35.308 kind of coalitions that are formed , 17:35.308 --> 17:37.475 ultimately , that's not a decision for 17:37.475 --> 17:36.999 the United States to make , it's a 17:37.009 --> 17:40.439 decision for Pakistan to make sure um I , 17:40.449 --> 17:42.782 I promised her I would come to her next . 17:42.782 --> 17:45.430 So in fact , I was calling on her 17:45.439 --> 17:47.550 before Sean interrupted . So anyway , 17:47.550 --> 17:49.550 so and now I interrupted you . So I 17:49.550 --> 17:51.550 apologize for that . Go ahead . The 17:51.550 --> 17:53.606 Foreign Policy magazine published an 17:53.606 --> 17:55.661 investigative report last week which 17:55.661 --> 17:57.772 shows that a former drug trafficker , 17:57.772 --> 17:59.883 Mr Bashir Noorzai , who was serving a 17:59.883 --> 18:01.828 lifetime prison here in the United 18:01.828 --> 18:04.650 States . But uh was was later released 18:04.660 --> 18:08.079 to the Taliban in exchange for ONE US C 18:08.199 --> 18:10.319 and now we started to working closely 18:10.329 --> 18:13.099 with the China in the miner or strike 18:13.109 --> 18:15.619 and doing money laundering for Taliban . 18:15.630 --> 18:17.900 What's your reaction to Chinese for 18:17.910 --> 18:20.250 this kind of partnership with the this 18:20.260 --> 18:22.427 uh former drug trafficker ? You know , 18:22.427 --> 18:24.482 I have not seen that report . Let me 18:24.482 --> 18:26.593 take it back and get you a comment on 18:26.593 --> 18:30.260 it . Now , go ahead . Thank you . 18:31.650 --> 18:33.872 Couple of questions are in the backdrop 18:33.872 --> 18:36.859 of former former former US ambassador 18:36.869 --> 18:39.150 Mr Ryan Crocker who I believe served in 18:39.160 --> 18:41.327 both the Republicans and Democrats , a 18:41.327 --> 18:43.479 very well respected diplomat uh 18:43.489 --> 18:45.949 yesterday . While speaking to voice of 18:45.959 --> 18:48.339 America , he said that the Biden 18:48.349 --> 18:50.016 administration policy towards 18:50.016 --> 18:53.520 Afghanistan is not good and he said not 18:53.530 --> 18:55.641 much importance has been given to the 18:55.641 --> 18:57.752 country , plus the education part has 18:57.752 --> 19:00.760 been neglected by the government 19:01.640 --> 19:03.930 in the backdrop of all this . I want to 19:03.939 --> 19:06.660 ask you now when the PT government is 19:06.670 --> 19:08.726 in a province which is right next to 19:08.726 --> 19:12.310 Afghanistan , is my assessment correct 19:12.319 --> 19:14.510 that in coming days , we we are going 19:14.520 --> 19:17.630 to see Taliban further increasing as 19:17.640 --> 19:19.751 far as their strength is concerned or 19:19.751 --> 19:22.819 no . So I do not want to make any 19:22.829 --> 19:24.829 predictions based on about what may 19:24.829 --> 19:28.569 happen in the future . Um Nor um 19:28.579 --> 19:30.412 get into a question involving an 19:30.412 --> 19:32.746 internal political party uh in Pakistan , 19:32.746 --> 19:34.635 but with respect to our policy in 19:34.635 --> 19:36.579 Afghanistan , I think you heard me 19:36.579 --> 19:38.746 speak to this yesterday , we have been 19:38.746 --> 19:40.912 very uh they've been quite clear about 19:40.912 --> 19:42.968 our , our policy in as it regards to 19:42.968 --> 19:44.857 Pakistan including through the um 19:44.857 --> 19:46.746 adoption of a UN Security Council 19:46.746 --> 19:48.968 resolution , uh just uh in December and 19:48.968 --> 19:52.959 just uh there are quite a 19:52.969 --> 19:56.089 few citizens uh us citizens right now 19:56.099 --> 19:58.739 uh on social media who criticized the 19:58.750 --> 20:00.910 Pakistan serving military generals , 20:00.920 --> 20:03.640 army chiefs , they curse at them . I 20:03.650 --> 20:05.539 try to get a reaction from Global 20:05.539 --> 20:07.594 Engagement Center . What do you as a 20:07.594 --> 20:09.594 state department official ? I is it 20:09.594 --> 20:11.761 fair that the social media influencers 20:11.761 --> 20:14.609 just uh cuss around at the serving 20:14.619 --> 20:16.508 military does not , does that not 20:16.508 --> 20:18.730 affect the government relationship with 20:18.730 --> 20:20.786 each other ? I think uh I think if I 20:20.786 --> 20:23.008 started trying to comment on the random 20:23.008 --> 20:25.175 postings of citizens on social media , 20:25.175 --> 20:27.290 uh I would be up here for the rest of 20:27.300 --> 20:29.356 the day and probably the rest of the 20:29.356 --> 20:31.467 week . So I'm gonna pass . Go ahead . 20:31.467 --> 20:33.411 Thanks ma um uh House Intelligence 20:33.411 --> 20:35.969 Committee chairman Mike Turner said uh 20:35.979 --> 20:38.270 that there's uh information that's been 20:38.280 --> 20:40.130 made to members of Congress uh 20:40.140 --> 20:42.390 regarding a serious national security 20:42.400 --> 20:44.456 threat is the state department aware 20:44.456 --> 20:46.289 about this ? And you're probably 20:46.439 --> 20:48.606 probably gonna say no , but is what do 20:48.606 --> 20:51.479 you know what is the threat ? So the 20:51.489 --> 20:53.433 national security adviser did just 20:53.433 --> 20:55.545 speak to this and as he said , he has 20:55.545 --> 20:57.600 scheduled a meeting um with Chairman 20:57.600 --> 20:59.711 Turner and other members of the House 20:59.711 --> 21:01.322 leadership . Uh and it's not 21:01.322 --> 21:03.489 appropriate to speak to the matter any 21:03.489 --> 21:05.600 further from uh in a public setting . 21:05.600 --> 21:05.319 And so I will leave it at that for now . 21:05.329 --> 21:07.107 And , and following up with the 21:07.107 --> 21:08.885 question I asked yesterday , um 21:08.885 --> 21:10.829 regarding Auckland community was a 21:10.829 --> 21:13.051 terrorist wanted by the United States . 21:13.051 --> 21:15.218 Um Did Secretary Blinken bring up that 21:15.218 --> 21:17.440 case in his meeting yesterday with King 21:17.440 --> 21:19.607 Abdullah ? Uh I don't have any further 21:19.607 --> 21:19.540 readouts other than that we uh and then 21:19.579 --> 21:21.746 issued publicly and then finally , the 21:21.746 --> 21:24.510 House CCP Select Committee uh issued a 21:24.520 --> 21:26.599 report stating that some us venture 21:26.609 --> 21:29.260 capital firms invested $3 billion into 21:29.290 --> 21:31.512 critical tech companies in China , some 21:31.512 --> 21:33.457 with ties to pl A and involved the 21:33.457 --> 21:35.568 genocide . Uh What's your reaction to 21:35.568 --> 21:37.623 that ? And is the Biden ? And uh has 21:37.623 --> 21:39.790 the Biden administration taken actions 21:39.790 --> 21:41.901 in the past to curb investments going 21:41.901 --> 21:43.901 into China and does more need to be 21:43.901 --> 21:45.957 done ? Uh So um I have not seen that 21:45.957 --> 21:48.068 report so I do not want to comment on 21:48.068 --> 21:47.689 the details of the report . But of 21:47.699 --> 21:49.959 course , um there are , there are us 21:49.969 --> 21:52.910 statutes that prohibit the uh US 21:52.920 --> 21:55.031 business , uh US companies from doing 21:55.031 --> 21:56.864 business with companies that are 21:56.864 --> 21:58.864 engaged in genocide . And you uh in 21:58.864 --> 22:01.087 addition to that , on a separate note , 22:01.087 --> 22:03.142 I will say that the US has opposed a 22:03.142 --> 22:05.364 number of investment restrictions as it 22:05.364 --> 22:07.476 relates to China . You thank you . Um 22:07.476 --> 22:10.069 Matt two natural gas pipelines blew up 22:10.079 --> 22:12.489 in Iran today and the officials have 22:12.500 --> 22:15.310 called it a sabotage work Um I was 22:15.319 --> 22:17.430 wondering if the Biden administration 22:17.430 --> 22:19.810 has any theory of its own on the cause 22:19.819 --> 22:22.680 of uh these explosions . Uh I've seen 22:22.689 --> 22:24.800 the reports and I just don't have any 22:24.800 --> 22:27.540 comment on them when , um , earlier , 22:27.550 --> 22:31.140 uh , one of the proxy groups uh of Iran 22:31.390 --> 22:34.160 attacked Tower 22 in Jordan which led 22:34.170 --> 22:36.003 to the killing of three American 22:36.003 --> 22:38.280 servicemen . The Biden administration 22:38.290 --> 22:40.568 said that they were going to retaliate . 22:41.310 --> 22:43.500 Is it safe to assume that the ret the 22:43.510 --> 22:46.760 retaliation will only be military uh 22:46.949 --> 22:49.310 or otherwise ? Uh I don't want to speak 22:49.319 --> 22:51.319 to that . The uh we have made clear 22:51.319 --> 22:53.319 that some of our responses would be 22:53.319 --> 22:55.719 seen and some would uh be unseen and I 22:55.729 --> 22:58.270 think I'll leave it at that . Thank you 22:58.280 --> 23:00.169 very much . Uh Russian Ambassador 23:00.169 --> 23:02.609 Antonov said last week that he held 23:02.619 --> 23:04.952 meetings with us officials including at , 23:04.952 --> 23:07.859 at the State Department and that uh he 23:07.869 --> 23:09.813 discussed with them the crash of a 23:09.813 --> 23:11.869 cargo plane , the Russian plane with 23:11.869 --> 23:14.689 Ukrainian prisoners of war in the Bear 23:14.770 --> 23:17.189 region . And he said that us officials 23:17.199 --> 23:19.366 showed interest in considering Russian 23:19.369 --> 23:21.630 proposals on , on investigating the 23:21.640 --> 23:25.030 incident . I'm sorry , can you confirm 23:25.079 --> 23:27.170 that the ready to investigate the 23:27.180 --> 23:30.209 incident ? I cannot , I'm not aware of 23:30.219 --> 23:32.330 those meetings are able to comment on 23:32.330 --> 23:34.497 in Iraq . We obviously have an embassy 23:34.497 --> 23:36.719 in Moscow . Um that does at time engage 23:36.719 --> 23:38.719 with the Russian government , but I 23:38.719 --> 23:40.775 don't have any , any uh out of those 23:40.775 --> 23:42.775 meetings . One more question on the 23:42.775 --> 23:45.052 same issue . Vance said last week that , 23:45.052 --> 23:47.194 uh , the US doesn't consider Russian 23:47.204 --> 23:49.104 claims about the incident as , as 23:49.114 --> 23:51.415 credible . At the same time New York 23:51.425 --> 23:53.647 time , the New York Times reported last 23:53.647 --> 23:56.324 week that , uh , some US officials 23:56.334 --> 23:59.359 admit that it was the Ukraine that shut 23:59.369 --> 24:01.630 down the plane using a Petro missile 24:01.640 --> 24:05.119 system . I don't have III I seldom want 24:05.130 --> 24:07.530 to comment on claims made an honestly , 24:07.609 --> 24:09.831 uh , in any outlet . But we continue to 24:09.831 --> 24:11.887 engage with the Ukrainian government 24:11.887 --> 24:11.760 about this question . We've seen their 24:11.770 --> 24:13.992 public comments and we engage with them 24:13.992 --> 24:16.310 privately about it as well . So 24:17.650 --> 24:20.750 during the hostage negotiations , uh 24:20.770 --> 24:24.010 like we see there is some obstacles uh 24:24.020 --> 24:26.670 like from your perspectives , which 24:26.680 --> 24:30.349 party is like more flexible for uh 24:30.359 --> 24:33.560 making these deals happen like Hamas or 24:33.569 --> 24:35.569 Israel ? Because what we see in the 24:35.569 --> 24:37.660 media , yeah , that like Hamas 24:37.670 --> 24:40.650 submitted a full proposal . But like we 24:40.660 --> 24:42.989 see Netanyahu is kind of a stubborn guy 24:43.000 --> 24:45.680 somehow . Uh how do you assess this ? 24:45.689 --> 24:48.260 And the like last question related to 24:48.270 --> 24:52.170 the related to the Rafah . Uh uh 24:52.569 --> 24:55.550 We see many protests uh in like uh 24:55.560 --> 24:57.930 Karma Salim uh uh border , like 24:57.939 --> 25:00.979 Israelian people preventing many aid to 25:00.989 --> 25:04.199 get in Rafah from their side . What is 25:04.209 --> 25:06.000 the action that you can take to 25:06.010 --> 25:08.121 facilitate this ? Like , are we going 25:08.121 --> 25:11.150 to put some sanction ? Like what if 43 25:11.160 --> 25:13.839 if 40 that you do to convince the 25:13.849 --> 25:16.640 Israeli government to like , let this 25:16.650 --> 25:19.239 uh uh uh protest stop and let this 25:19.250 --> 25:23.079 humanitarian aid uh get in the . Uh so 25:23.089 --> 25:25.311 with respect to the first one , I think 25:25.311 --> 25:27.422 the only way I'll answer that is that 25:27.422 --> 25:29.589 in the response that you saw come back 25:29.589 --> 25:32.189 from uh Hamas uh to the proposal that 25:32.199 --> 25:34.255 was put forward by the government of 25:34.255 --> 25:36.255 Israel and other countries . Uh You 25:36.255 --> 25:38.199 solve a number of issues that were 25:38.199 --> 25:40.421 obvious nonstarters , for example , the 25:40.421 --> 25:42.477 status of Al AQSA is not going to be 25:42.477 --> 25:44.810 resolved in a negotiation over hostages . 25:44.810 --> 25:44.630 Uh And I will leave it at that with 25:44.640 --> 25:46.751 respect to the second question . Uh I 25:46.751 --> 25:48.973 will say we have seen the government of 25:48.973 --> 25:51.140 Israel take steps to keep Karem Shalom 25:51.140 --> 25:53.140 open . Uh They've declared the area 25:53.140 --> 25:55.307 around Karem Shalom , a military uh uh 25:55.307 --> 25:57.439 zone . Uh The ID F has made uh has 25:57.449 --> 26:00.420 moved forces in to police that crossing 26:00.430 --> 26:02.486 to ensure that it can stay open . So 26:02.486 --> 26:04.597 much needed humanitarian assistance , 26:04.597 --> 26:06.763 including humanitarian assistance that 26:06.763 --> 26:08.819 was supplied by the uh United States 26:08.819 --> 26:11.041 can continue to flow into Rafa . And we 26:11.041 --> 26:13.263 think that's important to do it . It is 26:13.263 --> 26:15.263 extremely unfortunate that at times 26:15.263 --> 26:17.430 that uh crossing has been blocked , we 26:17.430 --> 26:17.334 have engaged with the Israeli 26:17.344 --> 26:19.400 government and made clear that it is 26:19.400 --> 26:21.566 the position of the United States that 26:21.566 --> 26:21.505 it ought to be , that it ought to 26:21.515 --> 26:23.459 remain open and they ought to take 26:23.459 --> 26:25.515 whatever steps they can to make sure 26:25.515 --> 26:27.626 that it remains open . And we're glad 26:27.626 --> 26:29.737 that they have taken those steps . Go 26:29.737 --> 26:31.904 go , go , I'll come to you next side . 26:32.280 --> 26:34.630 Um I have a couple of questions in Gaza . 26:34.640 --> 26:36.670 Um It's been over two weeks since 26:36.680 --> 26:38.569 Israeli forces attacked uh hinder 26:38.699 --> 26:40.643 Arab's family , killing her aunt , 26:40.643 --> 26:42.755 uncle and cousins , being her trapped 26:42.755 --> 26:44.755 alone in her vehicle . We heard her 26:44.755 --> 26:46.810 police to the Red Cross in society . 26:46.810 --> 26:49.032 Two medics were sent all to be blown up 26:49.032 --> 26:51.199 allegedly by Israeli forces . I wanted 26:51.199 --> 26:50.890 to ask about the status of the inquiry 26:50.900 --> 26:53.067 into this just because it seems if the 26:53.067 --> 26:55.178 Israeli government , you know , which 26:55.178 --> 26:56.789 seemingly does have a pretty 26:56.789 --> 26:59.011 sophisticated operation is prioritizing 26:59.011 --> 26:58.869 this and they don't already know which 26:58.880 --> 27:01.047 soldiers to interview . For instance , 27:01.047 --> 27:03.047 they have Red Crescent calls , time 27:03.047 --> 27:04.880 stamps , the location of the red 27:04.880 --> 27:07.102 crescent staff to , you know , question 27:07.102 --> 27:08.991 and rely on plenty of material to 27:08.991 --> 27:10.824 figure out who exactly to , um , 27:10.824 --> 27:12.936 inquire with and to figure out who to 27:12.936 --> 27:14.880 hold accountable . Um So I want to 27:14.880 --> 27:14.609 first ask about the status of this . 27:14.800 --> 27:17.022 Sure . So , um I think that question is 27:17.022 --> 27:18.689 appropriately directed to the 27:18.689 --> 27:20.744 government of Israel , I will say on 27:20.744 --> 27:22.856 behalf of the United States , we have 27:22.856 --> 27:24.911 made clear to them that we want that 27:24.911 --> 27:27.133 incident to be investigated . They have 27:27.133 --> 27:29.300 told us they are investigating it . Uh 27:29.300 --> 27:28.569 It's our understanding that 27:28.579 --> 27:30.746 investigative investigation is not yet 27:30.746 --> 27:32.857 complete , should direct questions to 27:32.857 --> 27:34.857 them about where it stands , but we 27:34.857 --> 27:36.857 want to see it completed as soon as 27:36.857 --> 27:35.989 possible . And as I said , from this 27:36.000 --> 27:37.889 podium several days ago . Uh , if 27:37.889 --> 27:40.111 accountability is appropriate , we want 27:40.111 --> 27:42.333 to be , uh , we want to , uh , uh , see 27:42.333 --> 27:44.556 accountability put in place . I'm gonna 27:44.556 --> 27:44.449 follow up to that before . The second 27:44.459 --> 27:46.348 one is , uh , just similarly with 27:46.348 --> 27:48.570 regards to Al Jazeera Cameraman , Samir 27:48.570 --> 27:50.626 Abu , uh , being left to bleed out , 27:50.626 --> 27:52.403 you know , while Israeli forces 27:52.403 --> 27:54.626 reportedly stalled medics from reaching 27:54.626 --> 27:56.848 him . Um , I know that previously , you 27:56.848 --> 27:56.599 have said there's investigations into 27:56.609 --> 27:58.709 that . Is there any updates on ? I 27:58.719 --> 28:00.608 don't have , I , I don't have any 28:00.608 --> 28:02.497 update on that on that again . We 28:02.497 --> 28:04.497 pressed the government of Israel on 28:04.497 --> 28:06.663 these matters . But , and at times , I 28:06.663 --> 28:08.886 have , I'm , you know , able to comment 28:08.886 --> 28:08.630 on specific incidents from here where 28:08.640 --> 28:10.862 we've gotten answers . But ultimately , 28:10.862 --> 28:10.849 those are questions that are directed 28:10.859 --> 28:13.026 to the government of Israel . Ok . And 28:13.026 --> 28:15.359 then the last question , um as you said , 28:15.359 --> 28:17.581 repeatedly , you know , the US chose to 28:17.581 --> 28:17.310 be cautious as it suspended funding to 28:17.319 --> 28:19.486 UN R um for allegations that 12 of its 28:19.486 --> 28:21.541 30,000 person staff , you know , may 28:21.541 --> 28:23.763 have been involved in the atrocities on 28:23.763 --> 28:25.708 October 7th . And as you described 28:25.708 --> 28:25.540 yesterday , you know , that's kind of 28:25.550 --> 28:27.772 standard us policy to have this type of 28:27.772 --> 28:29.828 caution with all sorts of entities . 28:29.828 --> 28:32.050 But , you know , as our colleagues have 28:32.050 --> 28:32.040 asked you over the past few months , 28:32.050 --> 28:33.994 there have been broad and specific 28:33.994 --> 28:36.217 human rights violations that we've been 28:36.217 --> 28:38.050 concerned about human uh attacks 28:38.050 --> 28:39.883 against hospitals and churches , 28:39.883 --> 28:41.883 targeting people with white flags , 28:41.883 --> 28:44.161 both Israeli hostages and Palestinians , 28:44.161 --> 28:46.217 um torturing Palestinians and now of 28:46.217 --> 28:48.383 course , this , this attack on Henry's 28:48.383 --> 28:48.079 family and then leaving her to die 28:48.089 --> 28:51.189 horribly . Um And so I'm wondering on 28:51.199 --> 28:53.421 all this , you know , you've said we're 28:53.421 --> 28:55.088 looking into it and Israel is 28:55.088 --> 28:57.143 investigating , but in each of these 28:57.143 --> 28:59.199 cases , the US doesn't seem to be as 28:59.199 --> 29:01.366 cautious with its money and support as 29:01.366 --> 29:01.150 it is with UN R A . Um It's to the 29:01.160 --> 29:03.300 point that the I CJ and the US court 29:03.310 --> 29:05.270 both say Israel may be plausibly 29:05.280 --> 29:07.502 committing genocide . Still us money is 29:07.502 --> 29:09.502 coming while the US shut off UN R A 29:09.502 --> 29:11.391 funding immediately . So I'm just 29:11.391 --> 29:13.391 wondering if you could explain that 29:13.391 --> 29:12.900 sort of difference . Let me say there 29:12.910 --> 29:14.910 is , uh I think a false equivalency 29:14.910 --> 29:16.799 embedded in that question between 29:16.799 --> 29:19.021 members of a terrorist organization who 29:19.021 --> 29:22.530 went out and intentionally killed 29:22.910 --> 29:25.069 innocent civilians . That is that , 29:25.079 --> 29:27.246 that , that is the difference when you 29:27.246 --> 29:29.412 have members of Hamas who participated 29:29.412 --> 29:31.301 in October 7th , according to the 29:31.301 --> 29:33.412 allegations made by the government of 29:33.412 --> 29:35.523 Israel that I should say Unrwa itself 29:35.523 --> 29:37.690 found credible . Those are allegations 29:37.690 --> 29:39.746 that UN R A found credible of people 29:39.746 --> 29:41.579 intentionally participating in a 29:41.579 --> 29:43.635 terrorist action to murder civilians 29:43.635 --> 29:45.523 that is different than a military 29:45.523 --> 29:48.569 campaign conducted an environment where 29:48.579 --> 29:50.468 that terrorist organization hides 29:50.468 --> 29:52.579 behind human shields . And so we will 29:52.579 --> 29:54.746 continue to engage with the government 29:54.746 --> 29:56.523 of Israel about how to minimize 29:56.523 --> 29:58.690 civilian casualties . We uh there have 29:58.690 --> 30:00.857 been far too many o over the course of 30:00.857 --> 30:02.690 this campaign and how to prevent 30:02.690 --> 30:04.690 civilians from being killed . But I 30:04.690 --> 30:04.175 think they are very different matters 30:04.185 --> 30:06.296 for the reasons . I just start to let 30:06.296 --> 30:08.407 me go ahead . I'm gonna have to , I'd 30:08.407 --> 30:10.407 have to wrap in a minute to go to a 30:10.407 --> 30:12.518 meeting . So , uh , Secretary Anthony 30:12.518 --> 30:14.629 Blinken yesterday spoke about hostage 30:14.629 --> 30:16.129 diplomacy and , uh , as an 30:16.129 --> 30:18.352 international security threat and , and 30:18.352 --> 30:20.352 so on . I , I want to ask you , the 30:20.352 --> 30:22.814 Israelis have arrested roughly 5000 30:22.824 --> 30:24.935 Palestinians from the West Bank , not 30:24.935 --> 30:26.935 in guys from the West Bank . Almost 30:26.935 --> 30:28.935 none of them have been charged with 30:28.935 --> 30:31.250 anything since October and no charges . 30:31.260 --> 30:33.371 What do you call this ? I mean , they 30:33.371 --> 30:35.538 come in the middle of the night , they 30:35.538 --> 30:37.593 take young men and women and so on . 30:37.593 --> 30:39.816 Many are Children as a matter of fact , 30:39.816 --> 30:41.927 1213 , 14 years old and so on . Isn't 30:41.927 --> 30:44.149 this really something that a government 30:44.149 --> 30:46.430 in this case leverage , leveraging the 30:46.439 --> 30:48.439 taking of people incarcerating them 30:48.439 --> 30:51.349 without any charges or maybe a future 30:51.359 --> 30:53.890 kind of a bargaining ? So I'll say two 30:53.900 --> 30:56.067 things about that . Number one that we 30:56.067 --> 30:57.956 want to see due process for those 30:57.956 --> 30:59.844 individuals as we want to see for 30:59.844 --> 30:59.319 anyone . And number two , we will 30:59.329 --> 31:01.829 continue to uh encourage Israel not to 31:01.839 --> 31:03.672 take any steps that can increase 31:03.672 --> 31:05.783 tensions in the West Bank . Let me go 31:05.783 --> 31:08.061 to Kina and then I'll come back to you . 31:08.061 --> 31:07.300 Then I got a wrap because I do have a 31:07.310 --> 31:09.421 meeting . Sorry to quick wrap today , 31:09.421 --> 31:11.839 go ahead extension . So we say in this 31:11.849 --> 31:13.738 room that the birth of the United 31:13.738 --> 31:16.510 States matter . But despite this uh 31:16.520 --> 31:18.760 Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti , 31:18.770 --> 31:20.659 he has not been responding to the 31:20.659 --> 31:22.739 births . As you're aware uh of the 31:22.750 --> 31:25.028 United States to suspend his decisions , 31:25.028 --> 31:27.194 unilateral decisions immediately . You 31:27.194 --> 31:29.819 had him , James o'bryan uh going on the 31:29.829 --> 31:33.469 record yesterday , ma it happening . 31:33.780 --> 31:36.390 So besides the words , uh what other 31:36.400 --> 31:39.670 tools do you intend to use next to 31:39.680 --> 31:42.599 compel Ky to stop with his unilateral 31:42.609 --> 31:45.079 actions ? Given that at the end of the 31:45.089 --> 31:47.256 day , this is a question that concerns 31:47.256 --> 31:49.367 the US taxpayer . So I'll say that we 31:49.367 --> 31:51.589 will continue to engage in diplomacy to 31:51.589 --> 31:53.478 resolve and uh uh to resolve this 31:53.478 --> 31:55.422 matter . And we want both sides to 31:55.422 --> 31:57.645 return to the eu facilitated dialogue . 31:57.645 --> 31:59.533 And beyond that , I don't want to 31:59.533 --> 32:01.700 preview any specific steps from here , 32:01.700 --> 32:03.867 Sean . I mean , only because I have to 32:03.867 --> 32:06.033 wrap and I said I got uh what's that ? 32:06.525 --> 32:09.369 I just want to ask , you know , uh if 32:09.380 --> 32:11.491 Secretary of Lincoln , you know , Bea 32:11.491 --> 32:14.060 is going to uh talk to Prime Minister 32:14.119 --> 32:17.410 EDI Rama about Kosovo issue . Let me 32:17.459 --> 32:20.780 just say whatever the secretary is 32:20.790 --> 32:22.957 going to say to the Prime Minister . I 32:22.957 --> 32:22.819 think I'll wait and let him say it 32:22.829 --> 32:24.773 privately to them . He does have a 32:24.773 --> 32:26.940 press conference in Albania afterwards 32:26.940 --> 32:26.939 or he'll talk about that meeting . So 32:26.959 --> 32:29.181 please tune in that Sean . Go ahead and 32:29.181 --> 32:31.540 then you had early on the elections in 32:31.550 --> 32:33.606 Indonesia . Yeah , I know it's quite 32:33.606 --> 32:35.717 general . I know in line with what we 32:35.717 --> 32:37.550 said about Pakistan , you're not 32:37.550 --> 32:39.772 getting ahead of who is , who is taking 32:39.772 --> 32:39.650 power . But uh Subianto has , has 32:39.660 --> 32:41.900 claimed victory in this , of course , 32:41.910 --> 32:44.239 as you know , until recently , uh he 32:44.250 --> 32:46.250 was barred from entering the United 32:46.250 --> 32:48.417 States on human rights grounds , human 32:48.417 --> 32:48.119 rights grounds . I mean , that's , 32:48.130 --> 32:50.352 that's been resolved since , but do you 32:50.352 --> 32:52.519 think that there's any lingering issue 32:52.519 --> 32:54.686 with on human rights regarding uh Subi 32:54.686 --> 32:56.797 presidency ? So you're right . We did 32:56.797 --> 32:56.510 say we would wait for the results to 32:56.520 --> 32:58.464 come in . It does appear that he's 32:58.464 --> 33:00.576 received the most votes , but I don't 33:00.576 --> 33:02.687 want to get ahead of the process . Um 33:02.687 --> 33:04.576 uh that needs , needs to unfold , 33:04.576 --> 33:06.298 unfold the official process in 33:06.298 --> 33:08.298 Indonesia . We are committed to the 33:08.298 --> 33:10.298 Comprehensive Strategic Partnership 33:10.298 --> 33:12.409 with Indonesia um that we have had uh 33:12.409 --> 33:14.131 and of course , our 75 year uh 33:14.131 --> 33:16.298 diplomatic relationship with Indonesia 33:16.298 --> 33:18.131 and we are prepared to work with 33:18.131 --> 33:20.353 whoever the Indonesian people choose as 33:20.353 --> 33:22.464 their democratically elected leader , 33:22.464 --> 33:24.298 whether it's su onto uh or as it 33:24.298 --> 33:26.409 appears to be President Subianto just 33:26.409 --> 33:28.520 very quickly with the other statement 33:28.520 --> 33:30.353 that he had on the call with the 33:30.353 --> 33:32.576 Algerian Foreign Minister . Do you know 33:32.576 --> 33:32.020 if there was discussion about the 33:32.030 --> 33:34.086 Security Council resolution that the 33:34.086 --> 33:36.197 Algerians are putting forward about a 33:36.197 --> 33:38.419 cease fire ? Did the secretary say it's 33:38.419 --> 33:40.419 not a good idea or some other ? I I 33:40.419 --> 33:39.550 don't want to get in a private 33:39.560 --> 33:41.782 conversation other than what we already 33:41.782 --> 33:43.782 included in the readout with that . 33:43.782 --> 33:45.949 Sorry for the quick RP . But I do have 33:45.949 --> 33:45.209 to go so for today . Thanks everyone .