1 00:00:00,639 --> 00:00:03,670 All right . Ok , 2 00:00:05,179 --> 00:00:07,510 good afternoon . Uh , just a few things 3 00:00:07,519 --> 00:00:09,519 at the top and then I'd be happy to 4 00:00:09,519 --> 00:00:11,739 jump in and take your questions on 5 00:00:11,750 --> 00:00:13,806 Secretary Austin's first full day as 6 00:00:13,806 --> 00:00:15,528 Secretary of Defense . He made 7 00:00:15,528 --> 00:00:17,583 countering sexual assault and sexual 8 00:00:17,583 --> 00:00:19,417 harassment in the military a top 9 00:00:19,417 --> 00:00:21,472 priority over the past three years . 10 00:00:21,472 --> 00:00:23,639 The department has taken unprecedented 11 00:00:23,639 --> 00:00:25,639 steps to tackle this problem . This 12 00:00:25,649 --> 00:00:27,205 includes swift and rigorous 13 00:00:27,205 --> 00:00:28,927 implementation of the approved 14 00:00:28,927 --> 00:00:30,871 recommendations of the Independent 15 00:00:30,871 --> 00:00:33,038 Review Commission on sexual assault in 16 00:00:33,038 --> 00:00:34,705 the military , as well as the 17 00:00:34,705 --> 00:00:36,927 establishment of the offices of Special 18 00:00:36,927 --> 00:00:39,880 Trial Counsel . Today , the Department 19 00:00:39,889 --> 00:00:41,889 of Defense released its fiscal year 20 00:00:41,889 --> 00:00:44,459 2023 annual report on sexual assault in 21 00:00:44,470 --> 00:00:46,959 the military . Its findings demonstrate 22 00:00:46,970 --> 00:00:49,137 that the department is making progress 23 00:00:49,137 --> 00:00:50,803 to prevent sexual assault and 24 00:00:50,803 --> 00:00:52,859 harassment in the military . This is 25 00:00:52,859 --> 00:00:55,026 the first time the department has seen 26 00:00:55,026 --> 00:00:57,192 a decrease in the prevalence of sexual 27 00:00:57,192 --> 00:00:59,137 assault in more than eight years . 28 00:00:59,310 --> 00:01:01,477 These early findings are encouraging . 29 00:01:01,799 --> 00:01:03,966 However , Secretary Austin has said we 30 00:01:03,966 --> 00:01:06,077 have far more work to do and that his 31 00:01:06,077 --> 00:01:08,243 only acceptable number of instances of 32 00:01:08,243 --> 00:01:10,410 sexual assault or sexual harassment in 33 00:01:10,410 --> 00:01:13,089 the US military is zero . We owe it to 34 00:01:13,099 --> 00:01:14,821 all of our service members dod 35 00:01:14,821 --> 00:01:16,821 civilians and their families to get 36 00:01:16,821 --> 00:01:19,949 this right . Switching gears , turning 37 00:01:19,959 --> 00:01:21,570 to an update of the maritime 38 00:01:21,570 --> 00:01:23,737 humanitarian corridor off the coast of 39 00:01:23,737 --> 00:01:26,309 Gaza . Earlier this morning , us 40 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:28,639 central command successfully anchored 41 00:01:28,650 --> 00:01:30,879 the temporary pier to the beach in Gaza 42 00:01:30,980 --> 00:01:33,610 with the help of ID F engineers and 43 00:01:33,620 --> 00:01:36,540 without any boots and any US boots on 44 00:01:36,550 --> 00:01:39,379 the ground in Gaza . This group of ID F 45 00:01:39,389 --> 00:01:41,445 engineers were specially trained for 46 00:01:41,445 --> 00:01:43,611 this mission by us . Army engineers in 47 00:01:43,611 --> 00:01:45,540 the preceding weeks on a beach in 48 00:01:45,550 --> 00:01:48,000 Israel . And again , I'll reiterate 49 00:01:48,029 --> 00:01:49,973 that there were no us boots on the 50 00:01:49,973 --> 00:01:52,440 ground . As you can see from the photos 51 00:01:52,449 --> 00:01:54,010 here on this monitor . The 52 00:01:54,019 --> 00:01:56,720 establishment of the Trident Pier has 53 00:01:56,730 --> 00:01:59,319 been coordinate to support USA I DS and 54 00:01:59,330 --> 00:02:01,099 the UN S effort to deliver and 55 00:02:01,110 --> 00:02:04,779 distribute aid in the coming days , aid 56 00:02:04,790 --> 00:02:06,901 will be offloaded from the ships at a 57 00:02:06,901 --> 00:02:08,860 floating roll on , roll off 58 00:02:08,869 --> 00:02:11,429 distribution facility Ferried to this 59 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:13,470 Trident pier and then driven to the 60 00:02:13,479 --> 00:02:16,699 shore in Gaza where USA Id and the UN 61 00:02:16,710 --> 00:02:19,429 will manage the distribution and I'd 62 00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:21,773 just like to highlight a few key points . 63 00:02:22,100 --> 00:02:24,211 The purpose of this temporary peer is 64 00:02:24,211 --> 00:02:26,044 to deliver critical humanitarian 65 00:02:26,044 --> 00:02:28,211 assistance to the Palestinian people . 66 00:02:28,660 --> 00:02:31,029 The pier is temporary and not meant to 67 00:02:31,039 --> 00:02:34,259 replace land routes into Gaza . And 68 00:02:34,270 --> 00:02:36,210 last , this is an internationally 69 00:02:36,220 --> 00:02:38,220 backed effort co ordinated with the 70 00:02:38,220 --> 00:02:40,220 United Nations . The US military is 71 00:02:40,220 --> 00:02:42,442 merely providing the logistical support 72 00:02:42,442 --> 00:02:44,664 to enable humanitarian aid to flow into 73 00:02:44,664 --> 00:02:47,440 Gaza from the sea for weeks . We have 74 00:02:47,449 --> 00:02:49,616 been working side by side with the USA 75 00:02:49,616 --> 00:02:52,330 ID team , the Cypriots , the Israelis 76 00:02:52,449 --> 00:02:54,616 and the United Nations to increase the 77 00:02:54,616 --> 00:02:56,671 flow of humanitarian assistance into 78 00:02:56,671 --> 00:02:59,509 Gaza . Today , we have hundreds of tons 79 00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:01,910 of aid ready for delivery and thousands 80 00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:04,770 of tons of aid in the pipeline . Some 81 00:03:04,779 --> 00:03:06,946 of this aid has already been loaded on 82 00:03:06,946 --> 00:03:10,169 to motor vessel , Roy P Benavidez which 83 00:03:10,179 --> 00:03:12,710 is currently off the coast of Gaza . To 84 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:14,949 emphasize again , this is a mission to 85 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:17,669 get humanitarian aid into Gaza . And an 86 00:03:17,679 --> 00:03:19,568 attack on those dedicated to this 87 00:03:19,568 --> 00:03:21,457 mission would jeopardize the life 88 00:03:21,457 --> 00:03:23,568 saving aid needed for the Palestinian 89 00:03:23,568 --> 00:03:25,979 people and staying within the Centcom 90 00:03:25,990 --> 00:03:29,009 area of responsibility exercise . Eager 91 00:03:29,020 --> 00:03:31,220 lion hosted by Jordan began this week 92 00:03:31,229 --> 00:03:33,800 with Jordan , the United States and 33 93 00:03:33,809 --> 00:03:36,119 additional partner nations . This is 94 00:03:36,130 --> 00:03:38,019 the 11th iteration of this annual 95 00:03:38,019 --> 00:03:40,019 exercise and underscores the United 96 00:03:40,019 --> 00:03:42,610 states' commitment to interoperability 97 00:03:42,619 --> 00:03:44,730 with our partners in the region while 98 00:03:44,730 --> 00:03:46,897 refining our ability to defend against 99 00:03:46,897 --> 00:03:49,008 hybrid threats , threats by state and 100 00:03:49,008 --> 00:03:51,789 non state actors . As we work to deter 101 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:53,689 and address aggressive actions by 102 00:03:53,689 --> 00:03:55,856 Malign actors around the world . These 103 00:03:55,856 --> 00:03:57,856 kinds of exercises and partnerships 104 00:03:57,856 --> 00:03:59,911 enable us to meet new and continuing 105 00:03:59,911 --> 00:04:02,669 threats . Together . The US military 106 00:04:02,679 --> 00:04:04,846 participates in more than 80 exercises 107 00:04:04,846 --> 00:04:07,012 with partner nations in the US CENTCOM 108 00:04:07,012 --> 00:04:09,369 area of responsibility each year to 109 00:04:09,380 --> 00:04:11,602 strengthen mill to mill relationships , 110 00:04:11,602 --> 00:04:13,713 promote regional security and improve 111 00:04:13,713 --> 00:04:15,602 interoperability with our partner 112 00:04:15,602 --> 00:04:17,769 nations . And with that , I'd be happy 113 00:04:17,769 --> 00:04:19,824 to take your questions . All right , 114 00:04:19,824 --> 00:04:21,769 thanks Sabrina . Um So question on 115 00:04:21,769 --> 00:04:24,170 distribution . When can we expect to 116 00:04:24,179 --> 00:04:27,510 see the first aid actually reach Gaza 117 00:04:27,519 --> 00:04:29,741 and not just get to the marshaling area 118 00:04:29,741 --> 00:04:31,686 but actually get into the hands of 119 00:04:31,686 --> 00:04:33,797 those who need it most . So we should 120 00:04:33,797 --> 00:04:35,852 expect aid to flow within the coming 121 00:04:35,852 --> 00:04:37,741 days and that will be through the 122 00:04:37,741 --> 00:04:39,852 marshaling area into Gaza . We're not 123 00:04:39,852 --> 00:04:41,852 looking for aid to just sit in that 124 00:04:41,852 --> 00:04:44,019 marshaling area . So it will be pretty 125 00:04:44,019 --> 00:04:46,075 immediate once the um once our ships 126 00:04:46,075 --> 00:04:48,186 are able to get to the pier and trans 127 00:04:48,186 --> 00:04:50,241 load that aid onto the pier , you'll 128 00:04:50,241 --> 00:04:52,463 see it happen pretty , pretty quickly . 129 00:04:52,463 --> 00:04:54,630 But is there any risk that there'll be 130 00:04:54,630 --> 00:04:56,797 backups like we've seen at these other 131 00:04:56,797 --> 00:04:56,739 gates where there's actually trucks 132 00:04:56,750 --> 00:04:58,890 ready to then take the aid out of the 133 00:04:58,899 --> 00:05:00,790 marshaling areas . Are there any 134 00:05:00,799 --> 00:05:02,688 guarantees from the Israelis that 135 00:05:02,688 --> 00:05:04,743 that's going to flow and they've got 136 00:05:04,743 --> 00:05:06,466 the safe routes to go and that 137 00:05:06,466 --> 00:05:08,410 coordination's in place ? So we've 138 00:05:08,410 --> 00:05:10,521 worked very closely with the ID F and 139 00:05:10,521 --> 00:05:12,632 not and not just the ID F with the UN 140 00:05:12,632 --> 00:05:14,688 with USA ID and other NGO S that are 141 00:05:14,688 --> 00:05:16,799 going to be facilitating the movement 142 00:05:16,799 --> 00:05:18,688 and distribution of this aid . We 143 00:05:18,688 --> 00:05:20,743 should not see any backups within uh 144 00:05:20,743 --> 00:05:22,688 what you're describing is from the 145 00:05:22,688 --> 00:05:24,820 marshaling area into Gaza . Uh We 146 00:05:24,829 --> 00:05:27,660 believe that aid should flow uh 147 00:05:28,619 --> 00:05:31,720 without , without any stoppage . Um I 148 00:05:31,730 --> 00:05:34,720 have to emphasize though this is not 149 00:05:34,790 --> 00:05:37,600 the solve this is an additive measure 150 00:05:37,750 --> 00:05:39,861 to the land routes . And we know that 151 00:05:39,861 --> 00:05:41,861 the land routes are the best , most 152 00:05:41,861 --> 00:05:44,028 quickest and most efficient way to get 153 00:05:44,028 --> 00:05:46,194 aid in . This is just one injected way 154 00:05:46,194 --> 00:05:48,361 to get to get aid into the Palestinian 155 00:05:48,361 --> 00:05:50,417 people . And are there any delays or 156 00:05:50,417 --> 00:05:52,472 complications by the fact that there 157 00:05:52,472 --> 00:05:56,089 are so many newly displaced civilians 158 00:05:56,100 --> 00:05:58,211 because of the operations going on in 159 00:05:58,211 --> 00:06:01,170 Rafah ? Not to my knowledge , you say 160 00:06:01,179 --> 00:06:03,068 in the coming days , if , if it's 161 00:06:03,068 --> 00:06:04,957 anchored to the beach now and the 162 00:06:04,957 --> 00:06:08,309 Vennes has the uh aid on board , why 163 00:06:08,320 --> 00:06:10,320 can't you offload it now ? What's , 164 00:06:10,320 --> 00:06:12,487 what's the hold up ? Yeah , so they're 165 00:06:12,487 --> 00:06:14,542 still just making sure everything is 166 00:06:14,542 --> 00:06:16,764 set and ready to go . I said it will be 167 00:06:16,764 --> 00:06:18,987 in the coming days when we have more to 168 00:06:18,987 --> 00:06:21,209 provide . We certainly will , but I , I 169 00:06:21,209 --> 00:06:23,431 don't expect this is going to be a long 170 00:06:23,431 --> 00:06:25,431 wait time here . Uh We already have 171 00:06:25,431 --> 00:06:27,376 AIDS loaded with , um , you know , 172 00:06:27,376 --> 00:06:29,653 hundreds and hundreds of tons on ships . 173 00:06:29,653 --> 00:06:31,820 So we do want to get it moving , but , 174 00:06:31,820 --> 00:06:31,820 you know , we want to make sure 175 00:06:31,829 --> 00:06:33,885 everything is in place . And then as 176 00:06:33,885 --> 00:06:36,107 soon as the commander feels that we are 177 00:06:36,107 --> 00:06:37,996 ready to go , that aid will start 178 00:06:37,996 --> 00:06:40,162 moving . We've been told 90 trucks per 179 00:06:40,162 --> 00:06:41,940 day initially ramping up to 150 180 00:06:41,940 --> 00:06:44,107 presumably you'll do a dry run . Is it 181 00:06:44,107 --> 00:06:46,162 five trucks ? 10 trucks . Do we have 182 00:06:46,162 --> 00:06:48,107 any sense ? So I think I said this 183 00:06:48,107 --> 00:06:50,162 earlier , this week , but you should 184 00:06:50,162 --> 00:06:52,218 really think of this as a crawl walk 185 00:06:52,218 --> 00:06:54,730 run . Um , this is going to be slow at 186 00:06:54,739 --> 00:06:57,450 first we're going to do our , uh , you 187 00:06:57,459 --> 00:06:59,626 know , initial runs , making sure that 188 00:06:59,626 --> 00:07:01,848 everything flows that nothing as Tatars 189 00:07:01,848 --> 00:07:03,959 question that nothing does get backed 190 00:07:03,959 --> 00:07:06,015 up as it shouldn't . Um , that thing 191 00:07:06,015 --> 00:07:07,792 that aid can flow from the pier 192 00:07:07,792 --> 00:07:09,959 directly from the marshaling area into 193 00:07:09,959 --> 00:07:12,126 Gaza . Um , and then , you know , once 194 00:07:12,126 --> 00:07:14,126 that is set , uh once we reach full 195 00:07:14,126 --> 00:07:16,237 operational capacity , you'll be able 196 00:07:16,237 --> 00:07:18,459 to see more trucks rolling off Teresa , 197 00:07:18,570 --> 00:07:20,899 what commitments have the Israelis made 198 00:07:21,149 --> 00:07:23,640 in terms of facilitating the convoys 199 00:07:23,649 --> 00:07:26,000 when they're in Gaza . And how are you ? 200 00:07:26,010 --> 00:07:28,010 And I guess them could ensure there 201 00:07:28,010 --> 00:07:29,843 isn't another sort of world food 202 00:07:29,843 --> 00:07:32,010 kitchen scenario where they strike aid 203 00:07:32,010 --> 00:07:33,899 vehicles . I think that's a great 204 00:07:33,899 --> 00:07:36,121 question and that's why we have the two 205 00:07:36,121 --> 00:07:38,343 deconfliction , two deconfliction cells 206 00:07:38,343 --> 00:07:40,510 that have been set up in Cyprus and in 207 00:07:40,510 --> 00:07:42,621 Israel , it is to ensure that we have 208 00:07:42,621 --> 00:07:44,788 our NGO partners , the UN sitting side 209 00:07:44,788 --> 00:07:47,829 by side with us with the ID F to make 210 00:07:47,839 --> 00:07:49,839 sure that we're all talking to each 211 00:07:49,839 --> 00:07:52,117 other , that deconfliction does happen . 212 00:07:52,117 --> 00:07:54,006 And so that these aid convoys can 213 00:07:54,006 --> 00:07:55,950 continue on a convoy as it's going 214 00:07:55,950 --> 00:07:58,117 through Gaza . So I'm not going to get 215 00:07:58,117 --> 00:08:00,283 into more specifics on that . Um But I 216 00:08:00,283 --> 00:08:02,339 can tell you that we have , the team 217 00:08:02,339 --> 00:08:04,339 has worked very , very hard to make 218 00:08:04,339 --> 00:08:06,561 sure that aid can come off the pier and 219 00:08:06,561 --> 00:08:08,929 can get distributed quickly into Gaza . 220 00:08:08,940 --> 00:08:12,029 We , we know how dire the humanitarian 221 00:08:12,040 --> 00:08:14,207 situation is on the ground . And so we 222 00:08:14,207 --> 00:08:16,318 want to make sure that aid gets in as 223 00:08:16,318 --> 00:08:18,596 quickly as possible . A quick question . 224 00:08:18,596 --> 00:08:20,707 Israel's Defense Minister has sort of 225 00:08:20,707 --> 00:08:22,707 come out in recent days and sort of 226 00:08:22,707 --> 00:08:24,873 opposed any long term military Israeli 227 00:08:24,873 --> 00:08:27,096 rule of Gaza . Is that something he has 228 00:08:27,096 --> 00:08:29,151 brought up with the secretary in the 229 00:08:29,151 --> 00:08:31,262 many conversations that he's had with 230 00:08:31,262 --> 00:08:33,151 Austin ? So I won't get into more 231 00:08:33,151 --> 00:08:35,429 details on their private conversations . 232 00:08:35,429 --> 00:08:35,140 But what I can tell you is , you know , 233 00:08:35,150 --> 00:08:37,489 we also share the same sentiment we 234 00:08:37,500 --> 00:08:41,059 don't want to see . Um we want to see a 235 00:08:41,309 --> 00:08:44,119 um a two state solution and when it 236 00:08:44,130 --> 00:08:46,297 comes to the future of Gaza , we don't 237 00:08:46,297 --> 00:08:48,463 support an Israeli occupation . Um But 238 00:08:48,463 --> 00:08:50,686 right now , what we're focused on is of 239 00:08:50,686 --> 00:08:52,539 course the Maritime Humanitarian 240 00:08:52,549 --> 00:08:54,660 Corridor and making sure that aid can 241 00:08:54,660 --> 00:08:57,489 get in as quickly as possible . Or I 242 00:08:57,530 --> 00:08:59,750 have a question about Rafa over the 243 00:08:59,760 --> 00:09:01,871 course of the past several days since 244 00:09:01,871 --> 00:09:03,982 May 7th , when Israel first went into 245 00:09:03,982 --> 00:09:05,704 Rafa , you called it a limited 246 00:09:05,704 --> 00:09:07,816 operation and yet we have seen Israel 247 00:09:07,816 --> 00:09:09,871 push farther and farther in . Do you 248 00:09:09,871 --> 00:09:12,093 still believe this operation is limited 249 00:09:12,093 --> 00:09:12,070 or is this simply a a full scale 250 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:14,247 invasion in incremental stages ? We do 251 00:09:14,247 --> 00:09:16,469 not believe that at this time right now 252 00:09:16,469 --> 00:09:18,691 that this is a full scale invasion , we 253 00:09:18,691 --> 00:09:20,747 still assess that it is limited . Um 254 00:09:20,747 --> 00:09:22,858 And what the ID F is doing is limited 255 00:09:22,859 --> 00:09:25,419 in its operations . But to be clear , 256 00:09:25,609 --> 00:09:28,530 uh we don't support ongoing operations 257 00:09:28,539 --> 00:09:31,929 in Rafah , given the size and scale of 258 00:09:31,940 --> 00:09:34,051 a humanitarian population there . And 259 00:09:34,051 --> 00:09:36,218 we've said that both very publicly and 260 00:09:36,218 --> 00:09:38,440 privately to our Israeli counterparts . 261 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:40,551 Just a quick follow up . When you say 262 00:09:40,551 --> 00:09:42,662 we assess that it's limited , are the 263 00:09:42,662 --> 00:09:44,773 Israelis not telling you their intent 264 00:09:44,773 --> 00:09:44,159 with Rafa , what they , what they 265 00:09:44,169 --> 00:09:46,336 intend to do or how far they intend to 266 00:09:46,336 --> 00:09:48,169 go ? Well , I mean , I think the 267 00:09:48,169 --> 00:09:50,391 Israelis have said pretty publicly that 268 00:09:50,391 --> 00:09:52,447 they want to get rid of every single 269 00:09:52,447 --> 00:09:54,502 Hamas battalion that still exists in 270 00:09:54,502 --> 00:09:56,558 Rafa and our concern . We , we share 271 00:09:56,558 --> 00:09:58,613 the sentiment , we certainly want to 272 00:09:58,613 --> 00:10:00,502 see Hamas eradicated um and , and 273 00:10:00,502 --> 00:10:03,260 destroyed . But what we uh or , or 274 00:10:03,270 --> 00:10:05,580 defeated , what we continue to 275 00:10:05,590 --> 00:10:07,646 emphasize though is how you go about 276 00:10:07,646 --> 00:10:09,757 doing those operations and especially 277 00:10:09,757 --> 00:10:11,757 with , um you know , over a million 278 00:10:11,757 --> 00:10:14,380 people sheltering there in Rafah . Um 279 00:10:14,900 --> 00:10:17,011 We have our concerns and we certainly 280 00:10:17,011 --> 00:10:19,344 certainly shared those concerns . Laura , 281 00:10:19,409 --> 00:10:21,520 um a couple of questions following up 282 00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:23,859 on J Lot's first . Um How long is the 283 00:10:23,869 --> 00:10:26,159 temporary pier going to be able to stay 284 00:10:26,169 --> 00:10:29,280 off the coast of Gaza ? Given the fall 285 00:10:29,289 --> 00:10:31,345 weather that may be coming up . So I 286 00:10:31,345 --> 00:10:33,678 don't have a timeline for you right now . 287 00:10:33,678 --> 00:10:35,900 Um As you probably heard , Vice Admiral 288 00:10:35,900 --> 00:10:35,880 Cooper speak to this earlier today , 289 00:10:36,143 --> 00:10:38,365 weather conditions right now are pretty 290 00:10:38,365 --> 00:10:40,492 good throughout the summer . Um But I 291 00:10:40,502 --> 00:10:42,558 just don't have a timeline to put on 292 00:10:42,558 --> 00:10:44,724 the temporary pier , other than to say 293 00:10:44,732 --> 00:10:47,422 it is designed to be temporary . This 294 00:10:47,432 --> 00:10:51,283 is not going to be a permanent way of 295 00:10:51,293 --> 00:10:54,033 getting aid to Gaza by using the JLO 296 00:10:54,062 --> 00:10:56,703 system . And then I just wanted to ask 297 00:10:56,713 --> 00:10:58,824 you about , um , I know the president 298 00:10:58,824 --> 00:11:00,991 announced last week that he had paused 299 00:11:00,991 --> 00:11:03,102 some shipments , uh , one shipment of 300 00:11:03,102 --> 00:11:05,366 weapons to Israel . I'm wondering if 301 00:11:05,375 --> 00:11:07,097 the Pentagon has delivered any 302 00:11:07,097 --> 00:11:09,208 additional shipments of other weapons 303 00:11:09,208 --> 00:11:11,486 or the same kind of weapons since then . 304 00:11:11,486 --> 00:11:13,542 Uh , so it's still that one shipment 305 00:11:13,542 --> 00:11:15,486 that has been paused and those are 306 00:11:15,486 --> 00:11:17,597 those high payload bombs that we , we 307 00:11:17,597 --> 00:11:21,280 paused that shipment on , um , a week 308 00:11:21,289 --> 00:11:23,840 or two ago . A security assistance does 309 00:11:23,849 --> 00:11:26,071 continue to flow to Israel though there 310 00:11:26,071 --> 00:11:28,239 have been shipments since going into 311 00:11:28,250 --> 00:11:30,194 Israel but not those high pay load 312 00:11:30,194 --> 00:11:34,140 munitions , Sabrina . So , on the , on 313 00:11:34,150 --> 00:11:36,679 the pier issue , the UN seems worried 314 00:11:36,690 --> 00:11:39,309 about the possibility or the 315 00:11:39,650 --> 00:11:42,760 feasibility of getting this aid of the 316 00:11:42,770 --> 00:11:45,340 pier to northern Gaza where they say 317 00:11:45,349 --> 00:11:47,969 the need is most acute . Um , 318 00:11:47,979 --> 00:11:50,369 considering the location of this beer , 319 00:11:50,380 --> 00:11:52,158 do you have guarantees from the 320 00:11:52,158 --> 00:11:54,380 Israelis that these trucks will be able 321 00:11:54,380 --> 00:11:56,380 to reach northern Gaza ? We believe 322 00:11:56,380 --> 00:11:58,491 that the trucks will be able to reach 323 00:11:58,491 --> 00:12:00,491 the populations that need them most 324 00:12:00,491 --> 00:12:02,824 which include Northern Gaza . But again , 325 00:12:02,824 --> 00:12:02,000 that's really something for the UN to 326 00:12:02,010 --> 00:12:03,843 speak to as they're handling the 327 00:12:03,843 --> 00:12:06,020 distribution of that . Um , USA ID is 328 00:12:06,030 --> 00:12:07,974 of course , working with the UN to 329 00:12:07,974 --> 00:12:11,719 ensure that supplies , whether it be 330 00:12:11,729 --> 00:12:13,896 food , water , medical can continue to 331 00:12:13,896 --> 00:12:15,896 get to those who need it most . But 332 00:12:15,896 --> 00:12:18,118 it's really the UN that should speak to 333 00:12:18,118 --> 00:12:20,229 where they're going to target some of 334 00:12:20,229 --> 00:12:22,062 their deliveries , the UN or the 335 00:12:22,062 --> 00:12:24,118 Israeli occupation forces since they 336 00:12:24,118 --> 00:12:26,919 are , they are the MM party that is 337 00:12:26,929 --> 00:12:29,760 targeting aid workers and they can 338 00:12:29,770 --> 00:12:32,359 block these trucks from getting to 339 00:12:32,369 --> 00:12:35,190 northern Gaza since they occupy parts 340 00:12:35,200 --> 00:12:37,830 of Gaza . So did you get any guarantees 341 00:12:37,840 --> 00:12:40,380 from the Israeli forces that they will 342 00:12:40,390 --> 00:12:42,650 let the UN distribute aid in northern 343 00:12:42,659 --> 00:12:44,715 Gaza ? So something that I think you 344 00:12:44,715 --> 00:12:46,881 should remember Fadi is that we've had 345 00:12:46,881 --> 00:12:48,992 the UN working within Gaza for a very 346 00:12:48,992 --> 00:12:52,400 long time since the war started . So UN 347 00:12:52,409 --> 00:12:54,520 workers are familiar with some of the 348 00:12:54,520 --> 00:12:56,765 checkpoints and we believe that through 349 00:12:56,775 --> 00:12:59,005 the deconfliction cells that will 350 00:12:59,015 --> 00:13:01,015 enable these trucks to get to where 351 00:13:01,015 --> 00:13:03,237 they need to and as quickly as possible 352 00:13:03,237 --> 00:13:05,348 and to the populations that need them 353 00:13:05,348 --> 00:13:07,404 most , whether it be in the north or 354 00:13:07,404 --> 00:13:09,404 elsewhere , we want to ensure or we 355 00:13:09,404 --> 00:13:11,571 want to see um the aid get to where it 356 00:13:11,571 --> 00:13:13,848 needs . But I have to remind you and I , 357 00:13:13,848 --> 00:13:16,080 and I know you know this , but the 358 00:13:16,090 --> 00:13:18,312 amount of trucks coming off of the pier 359 00:13:18,312 --> 00:13:20,534 is not going to be the same of what can 360 00:13:20,534 --> 00:13:22,590 come from the land crossings . So we 361 00:13:22,590 --> 00:13:24,757 have to see those land routes open and 362 00:13:24,757 --> 00:13:26,923 the quickest way to get aid in whether 363 00:13:26,923 --> 00:13:28,923 it be the north or anywhere else in 364 00:13:28,923 --> 00:13:31,090 Gaza is going to be through those land 365 00:13:31,090 --> 00:13:30,890 routes . This is just meant to be an 366 00:13:30,900 --> 00:13:32,733 additive measure . And finally , 367 00:13:34,210 --> 00:13:37,070 obviously , fuel is very important to 368 00:13:37,080 --> 00:13:39,950 delivering this aid through trucks and 369 00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:42,989 crucial for medical operation in Gaza . 370 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:45,687 Are you going to be delivering fuel as 371 00:13:45,687 --> 00:13:47,742 well since Israel closed most of the 372 00:13:47,742 --> 00:13:49,909 land routes right now , the focus just 373 00:13:49,909 --> 00:13:52,076 on humanitarian aid . So that includes 374 00:13:52,076 --> 00:13:54,076 food and water right now , where do 375 00:13:54,076 --> 00:13:56,187 these trucks get fuel from ? The fuel 376 00:13:56,187 --> 00:13:58,298 is coming in through land routes ? We 377 00:13:58,298 --> 00:14:00,464 want to see those land routes continue 378 00:14:00,464 --> 00:14:02,464 to open . There's not enough trucks 379 00:14:02,464 --> 00:14:02,125 that have been going through on those 380 00:14:02,135 --> 00:14:04,302 land routes . That's something that uh 381 00:14:04,929 --> 00:14:07,151 every single conversation the secretary 382 00:14:07,151 --> 00:14:09,373 has with his counterpart , it is raised 383 00:14:09,373 --> 00:14:11,596 and uh not speaking on behalf of others 384 00:14:11,596 --> 00:14:13,429 across this building , but it is 385 00:14:13,429 --> 00:14:15,373 certainly raised by other agencies 386 00:14:15,373 --> 00:14:17,739 across the administration . Uh Lo uh 387 00:14:17,760 --> 00:14:19,371 Sabrina . Um Do you have any 388 00:14:19,371 --> 00:14:21,371 indications that Hamas may actually 389 00:14:21,380 --> 00:14:24,330 intend to threaten the J Lots uh 390 00:14:24,760 --> 00:14:27,919 system ? Um And there have been these 391 00:14:27,929 --> 00:14:30,530 other incidents recently . They didn't 392 00:14:30,539 --> 00:14:32,761 seem to indicate that there was attacks 393 00:14:32,761 --> 00:14:34,650 but they weren't directly related 394 00:14:34,650 --> 00:14:36,872 anywhere near this marshaling area . Um 395 00:14:36,872 --> 00:14:38,928 So can you tell us , I mean , do you 396 00:14:38,928 --> 00:14:40,872 have any indications that Hamas is 397 00:14:40,872 --> 00:14:42,983 starting ? And is that a good thing ? 398 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:45,580 We have been very clear and I will say 399 00:14:45,590 --> 00:14:48,539 have tried to be as you know , open and 400 00:14:48,549 --> 00:14:50,660 public as possible that everything to 401 00:14:50,660 --> 00:14:52,605 do with this pier is about getting 402 00:14:52,605 --> 00:14:55,429 humanitarian assistance into Gaza . Uh 403 00:14:55,440 --> 00:14:57,599 We don't have any indications that 404 00:14:57,609 --> 00:14:59,609 there should be any attacks on this 405 00:14:59,609 --> 00:15:01,799 pier . Uh But should there be attacks 406 00:15:01,859 --> 00:15:03,859 uh either towards the , the , the 407 00:15:03,869 --> 00:15:05,425 humanitarian , the Maritime 408 00:15:05,425 --> 00:15:07,425 Humanitarian Corridor or around the 409 00:15:07,425 --> 00:15:09,258 marshaling area that is going to 410 00:15:09,258 --> 00:15:11,400 directly affect Palestinian people , 411 00:15:11,409 --> 00:15:13,687 the people that need this aid the most . 412 00:15:13,687 --> 00:15:16,450 So if Hamas decides to attack this area , 413 00:15:16,489 --> 00:15:18,909 they are directly harming people in 414 00:15:18,919 --> 00:15:21,700 Gaza that are starving , that need this 415 00:15:21,710 --> 00:15:24,799 aid at a critical time . Um So we 416 00:15:24,809 --> 00:15:26,976 haven't seen any indications of that . 417 00:15:26,976 --> 00:15:30,270 Uh we were able to secure um the the 418 00:15:30,570 --> 00:15:32,950 pin overnight . Um You know , we're 419 00:15:32,960 --> 00:15:35,239 always assessing the security situation 420 00:15:35,250 --> 00:15:37,306 and working with the ID F who's also 421 00:15:37,306 --> 00:15:39,639 helping provide security for our forces . 422 00:15:39,639 --> 00:15:41,750 But um right now , we're just focused 423 00:15:41,750 --> 00:15:45,150 on getting that data , Jeanie , thank 424 00:15:45,270 --> 00:15:48,260 you on the Sunday meeting between 425 00:15:48,679 --> 00:15:51,919 Russia and China . Ok . Uh Chinese 426 00:15:51,929 --> 00:15:54,489 President Xi Jinping said that 427 00:15:55,059 --> 00:15:58,919 China Russia relations are at the best 428 00:15:58,929 --> 00:16:02,479 level in history . And the Russian 429 00:16:02,489 --> 00:16:05,049 President Putin announced that he will 430 00:16:05,059 --> 00:16:08,929 visit Harbin Institute of Technology 431 00:16:09,280 --> 00:16:13,229 which is sanctioned by United States 432 00:16:13,239 --> 00:16:15,609 in connection with the missile 433 00:16:15,619 --> 00:16:18,664 development . How do you consider the 434 00:16:18,674 --> 00:16:21,534 strengthening of military cooper 435 00:16:21,854 --> 00:16:24,815 between China and Russia ? I don't 436 00:16:24,825 --> 00:16:26,881 really have anything to offer on the 437 00:16:26,881 --> 00:16:28,992 meeting . What I can tell you is that 438 00:16:28,992 --> 00:16:30,714 we've been very clear with any 439 00:16:30,714 --> 00:16:32,881 countries that offer Russia assistance 440 00:16:32,881 --> 00:16:34,936 when it comes to their um you know , 441 00:16:34,936 --> 00:16:38,659 unjust war in Ukraine . Again , this 442 00:16:38,669 --> 00:16:41,909 is a country that attacked its 443 00:16:41,919 --> 00:16:44,559 sovereign neighbor . The United States 444 00:16:44,570 --> 00:16:46,459 is proud to stand strong with the 445 00:16:46,459 --> 00:16:48,626 coalition that we've built through the 446 00:16:48,626 --> 00:16:50,626 Ukraine defense contact group . And 447 00:16:50,626 --> 00:16:52,348 that's what we're focused on . 448 00:16:52,348 --> 00:16:54,292 President Xi Jinping said that the 449 00:16:54,292 --> 00:16:58,020 peace talks on Ukraine should be 450 00:16:58,030 --> 00:17:01,239 discussed the basic on proposal 451 00:17:01,460 --> 00:17:05,290 made by China . How do you view on 452 00:17:05,300 --> 00:17:07,939 this ? Yeah , I'm going to let Ukraine 453 00:17:07,949 --> 00:17:09,782 speak to its own sovereignty and 454 00:17:09,790 --> 00:17:12,012 decisions that it makes going forward . 455 00:17:12,012 --> 00:17:14,189 Uh What we're focused on Janie as you 456 00:17:14,199 --> 00:17:17,459 know , is providing the equipment , the 457 00:17:17,469 --> 00:17:19,969 capabilities that Ukraine needs on the 458 00:17:19,979 --> 00:17:23,530 battlefield to be successful . Um They 459 00:17:23,540 --> 00:17:25,596 are in the fight of their lives . Uh 460 00:17:25,596 --> 00:17:27,540 We're seeing that around Kharkiv , 461 00:17:27,540 --> 00:17:29,429 we're seeing Russian forces amass 462 00:17:29,429 --> 00:17:31,540 around there . Uh which is why you've 463 00:17:31,540 --> 00:17:33,707 seen us since we got that supplemental 464 00:17:33,707 --> 00:17:35,540 package , um surge assistance to 465 00:17:35,540 --> 00:17:37,651 Ukraine . And we believe some of that 466 00:17:37,651 --> 00:17:39,484 is getting to the front lines as 467 00:17:39,484 --> 00:17:41,540 quickly as possible . But um what we 468 00:17:41,540 --> 00:17:43,762 want to see is Ukraine be successful in 469 00:17:43,762 --> 00:17:45,929 its fight against Russia and I'll just 470 00:17:45,929 --> 00:17:47,873 leave it at that . Yeah , I have a 471 00:17:47,873 --> 00:17:50,096 couple in Ukraine and then want on . So 472 00:17:50,096 --> 00:17:52,262 we've heard a number of times from the 473 00:17:52,262 --> 00:17:54,429 US officials that the US does not want 474 00:17:54,429 --> 00:17:56,651 Ukraine to strike targets inside Russia 475 00:17:56,651 --> 00:17:58,707 with American weapons in the wake of 476 00:17:58,707 --> 00:18:00,929 Russian offensive . And it Kharkiv does 477 00:18:00,929 --> 00:18:02,873 us consider changing that approach 478 00:18:02,873 --> 00:18:05,040 because that's what Ukraine are asking 479 00:18:05,040 --> 00:18:07,151 for , it's very difficult for them to 480 00:18:07,151 --> 00:18:09,096 respond to these attacks that come 481 00:18:09,096 --> 00:18:08,885 literally from across the border . When 482 00:18:08,895 --> 00:18:11,006 Russians know that they can basically 483 00:18:11,006 --> 00:18:12,951 be saved there . Yeah , we haven't 484 00:18:12,951 --> 00:18:15,117 changed our position . We believe that 485 00:18:15,117 --> 00:18:17,228 the equipment , the capabilities that 486 00:18:17,228 --> 00:18:19,173 we are giving Ukraine , that other 487 00:18:19,173 --> 00:18:21,395 countries are giving Ukraine to Ukraine 488 00:18:21,395 --> 00:18:23,617 should be used to take back Ukraine and 489 00:18:23,617 --> 00:18:25,228 sovereign territory . Just a 490 00:18:25,228 --> 00:18:27,284 clarification . Is this a request to 491 00:18:27,284 --> 00:18:29,062 Ukrainians or this is a binding 492 00:18:29,062 --> 00:18:31,228 condition that goes along with , we've 493 00:18:31,228 --> 00:18:33,562 made our requests pretty public on this . 494 00:18:33,562 --> 00:18:37,030 Um Again , I would reiterate that in 495 00:18:37,079 --> 00:18:39,270 every single Ukraine defense contact 496 00:18:39,280 --> 00:18:41,459 group that the secretary convenes the 497 00:18:41,469 --> 00:18:43,469 weapons that are provided . Again , 498 00:18:43,469 --> 00:18:47,074 it's for use on battlefield . And the 499 00:18:47,084 --> 00:18:49,354 secretary in his conversations with 500 00:18:49,364 --> 00:18:51,454 Minister Umarov , you know , talks 501 00:18:51,464 --> 00:18:53,686 through how best those capabilities can 502 00:18:53,686 --> 00:18:57,125 be used . And we believe that is within 503 00:18:57,185 --> 00:19:00,435 Ukrainian territory . What was 504 00:19:00,444 --> 00:19:02,555 concluded during the talks between us 505 00:19:02,555 --> 00:19:04,704 and officials on the withdrawal of 506 00:19:04,714 --> 00:19:06,714 American forces . And when will the 507 00:19:06,714 --> 00:19:08,875 withdrawal begin ? And how long is it 508 00:19:08,885 --> 00:19:10,941 expected to take ? So I don't have a 509 00:19:10,941 --> 00:19:13,052 timeline for you to set uh just now , 510 00:19:13,410 --> 00:19:16,439 right this moment on uh a withdrawal , 511 00:19:16,449 --> 00:19:18,671 it will be an orderly withdrawal from . 512 00:19:18,839 --> 00:19:21,640 Um The dod L delegation is still there 513 00:19:21,650 --> 00:19:23,739 right now . So um conversations are 514 00:19:23,750 --> 00:19:25,806 still ongoing and I'm just , I don't 515 00:19:25,806 --> 00:19:27,861 have anything to read out just yet , 516 00:19:27,861 --> 00:19:29,861 but since you're so interested , uh 517 00:19:29,861 --> 00:19:31,806 when we do have more to share , we 518 00:19:31,806 --> 00:19:33,806 certainly will Yeah , Sabrina Lucas 519 00:19:33,806 --> 00:19:37,079 Tomlinson . It's been a while . What is 520 00:19:37,089 --> 00:19:38,829 the Pentagon's reaction to two 521 00:19:38,839 --> 00:19:41,061 Jordanian nationals caught breaking and 522 00:19:41,061 --> 00:19:43,006 entering a US Marine Corps base in 523 00:19:43,006 --> 00:19:45,300 Quantico . So I am aware of those 524 00:19:45,310 --> 00:19:47,219 reports . I just don't have more 525 00:19:47,229 --> 00:19:49,709 information for you . Um , I believe 526 00:19:49,719 --> 00:19:51,830 the Marine Corps might have more . So 527 00:19:51,830 --> 00:19:53,997 I'd have to refer you to them to speak 528 00:19:53,997 --> 00:19:56,219 about this incident happened almost two 529 00:19:56,219 --> 00:19:58,386 weeks ago . You make it sound like you 530 00:19:58,386 --> 00:19:57,969 haven't heard of this incident before . 531 00:19:57,979 --> 00:19:59,979 Does that mean the secretary hasn't 532 00:19:59,979 --> 00:20:01,923 been briefed ? Uh I can assure you 533 00:20:01,923 --> 00:20:05,839 Lucas that uh we get updates from all 534 00:20:05,849 --> 00:20:07,989 of our bases all around the world and 535 00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:10,560 are aware of incidents . Um What I can 536 00:20:10,569 --> 00:20:12,736 tell you is force protection is always 537 00:20:12,736 --> 00:20:14,847 a priority at our dod installations . 538 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:17,459 Um I just don't have more to share on 539 00:20:17,469 --> 00:20:19,525 this particular incident whenever an 540 00:20:19,525 --> 00:20:21,747 incident like this happens . It usually 541 00:20:21,747 --> 00:20:24,739 um starts an investigation process and 542 00:20:24,750 --> 00:20:26,750 I just wouldn't be able to speak to 543 00:20:26,750 --> 00:20:28,639 that from here . Is the secretary 544 00:20:28,639 --> 00:20:30,861 confident in the safety and security of 545 00:20:30,861 --> 00:20:32,917 us military bases , not only in this 546 00:20:32,917 --> 00:20:35,083 country but around the world . He is . 547 00:20:35,083 --> 00:20:37,250 Can you confirm that he was briefed on 548 00:20:37,250 --> 00:20:39,306 this incident ? I can I can tell you 549 00:20:39,306 --> 00:20:41,306 Lucas that he tracks many different 550 00:20:41,306 --> 00:20:43,361 things all around the world . I will 551 00:20:43,361 --> 00:20:45,583 tell , I'm not , I'm not gonna get into 552 00:20:45,583 --> 00:20:45,420 specific things that he's briefed on , 553 00:20:45,430 --> 00:20:47,597 on a daily basis . But what I can tell 554 00:20:47,597 --> 00:20:49,430 you is the secretary uh receives 555 00:20:49,430 --> 00:20:51,597 regular updates from what is happening 556 00:20:51,597 --> 00:20:53,874 within the US and all around the world , 557 00:20:53,874 --> 00:20:53,650 whether it be our bases or with our 558 00:20:53,660 --> 00:20:56,119 service members . Secretary of Defense 559 00:20:56,130 --> 00:20:58,352 think the southern border is secure the 560 00:20:58,352 --> 00:21:00,408 United States . I would refer you to 561 00:21:00,408 --> 00:21:02,519 the Department of Homeland Security , 562 00:21:02,519 --> 00:21:04,574 uh , to speak more to that . This is 563 00:21:04,574 --> 00:21:06,908 the Department of Defense . Yeah . Yeah . 564 00:21:06,908 --> 00:21:06,750 Hi . Um , Danielle , compete for 565 00:21:06,760 --> 00:21:09,300 Italian Lace . I also know who you are 566 00:21:10,410 --> 00:21:13,329 now . You do . Um So if you can talk a 567 00:21:13,339 --> 00:21:16,010 little bit about um if you learn the 568 00:21:16,020 --> 00:21:18,739 Pentagon have learned something about 569 00:21:18,750 --> 00:21:20,930 the mit on President Putin and Xi 570 00:21:20,989 --> 00:21:23,930 Jinping in terms of the tools that the 571 00:21:23,939 --> 00:21:27,890 Chinese are providing to the Russians 572 00:21:27,900 --> 00:21:29,859 towards Ukraine in , in terms of 573 00:21:29,869 --> 00:21:33,130 weapons , weapons and uh technologies . 574 00:21:33,560 --> 00:21:35,616 I just don't have more for you right 575 00:21:35,616 --> 00:21:37,671 now . Uh We have certainly been very 576 00:21:37,671 --> 00:21:39,859 public about our um we've been very 577 00:21:39,869 --> 00:21:42,310 outspoken about any country who wants 578 00:21:42,319 --> 00:21:44,486 to come to the aid of Russia is coming 579 00:21:44,486 --> 00:21:46,541 to the aid of a country that invaded 580 00:21:46,541 --> 00:21:48,790 its sovereign neighbor . Um But I just 581 00:21:48,800 --> 00:21:51,022 don't have more to share at this time . 582 00:21:51,420 --> 00:21:53,531 So the US and Israeli militaries have 583 00:21:53,531 --> 00:21:55,531 reached a security arrangement that 584 00:21:55,531 --> 00:21:57,531 ensures categorically the safety of 585 00:21:57,531 --> 00:21:59,910 everyone in the marshaling area . Why 586 00:21:59,920 --> 00:22:03,390 is it so difficult then to also ensure 587 00:22:03,459 --> 00:22:05,515 that the Israelis don't bomb the aid 588 00:22:05,515 --> 00:22:07,515 convoys leaving the marshaling area 589 00:22:07,515 --> 00:22:09,681 given at the close co ordination ? Why 590 00:22:09,681 --> 00:22:11,348 is that so difficult to get a 591 00:22:11,348 --> 00:22:13,459 categorical assurance that they won't 592 00:22:13,459 --> 00:22:15,792 bomb these convoys as they have so many . 593 00:22:15,792 --> 00:22:17,903 Yeah , I don't think it's a matter of 594 00:22:17,903 --> 00:22:19,848 difficulty . Uh , we've set up two 595 00:22:19,848 --> 00:22:22,070 deconfliction cells , one in Cyprus and 596 00:22:22,070 --> 00:22:24,556 one in Israel . And you have folks from 597 00:22:24,566 --> 00:22:27,465 the UN , from USA ID , from the US 598 00:22:27,475 --> 00:22:30,076 military and from the ID F embedded 599 00:22:30,086 --> 00:22:32,253 together sitting next to each other in 600 00:22:32,253 --> 00:22:35,286 these cells working to ensure that 601 00:22:35,296 --> 00:22:37,296 there is deconfliction happening as 602 00:22:37,296 --> 00:22:40,121 these trucks leave the marshaling area . 603 00:22:40,241 --> 00:22:42,352 So that's exactly what we are solving 604 00:22:42,352 --> 00:22:44,519 for . And we shouldn't see , we should 605 00:22:44,519 --> 00:22:47,232 not see . Um And we don't want to see 606 00:22:47,241 --> 00:22:49,541 what has happened previously . Um We 607 00:22:49,552 --> 00:22:51,774 want to be able to see humanitarian aid 608 00:22:51,774 --> 00:22:53,774 reach those who need it most in the 609 00:22:53,774 --> 00:22:55,719 most efficient manner . Possible . 610 00:22:55,719 --> 00:22:57,719 Spokesperson said yesterday that he 611 00:22:57,719 --> 00:22:59,385 wasn't satisfied yet with the 612 00:22:59,385 --> 00:23:01,719 deconfliction arrangements . Yeah . And 613 00:23:01,729 --> 00:23:04,489 then he added that the maritime 614 00:23:04,500 --> 00:23:06,444 corridor is exposed to . We do not 615 00:23:06,444 --> 00:23:08,389 think the j lots that the maritime 616 00:23:08,389 --> 00:23:10,500 corridor is exposed to any additional 617 00:23:10,500 --> 00:23:12,611 risk above and beyond that , which is 618 00:23:12,611 --> 00:23:14,833 already present in Gaza . That's pretty 619 00:23:14,833 --> 00:23:16,944 frightening then , isn't it given how 620 00:23:16,944 --> 00:23:16,880 many people have been killed ? I don't 621 00:23:16,890 --> 00:23:18,834 think we've come up here with rose 622 00:23:18,834 --> 00:23:21,057 colored glass and said that we're not , 623 00:23:21,250 --> 00:23:23,417 this is not a risk , this is an active 624 00:23:23,417 --> 00:23:25,910 war zone . What we , if I could , if I 625 00:23:25,920 --> 00:23:28,130 could just finish . So we have had 626 00:23:28,140 --> 00:23:30,362 assurances from the ID F that they will 627 00:23:30,362 --> 00:23:32,630 provide security to us forces that are 628 00:23:32,640 --> 00:23:35,069 operating on and , and , and set up 629 00:23:35,079 --> 00:23:39,010 that um temporary floating causeway , 630 00:23:39,290 --> 00:23:41,880 we will also have a presence of a 631 00:23:41,890 --> 00:23:44,489 destroyer in the region to ensure that 632 00:23:44,500 --> 00:23:47,349 us forces are protected . That is we 633 00:23:47,359 --> 00:23:49,526 take force protection very seriously . 634 00:23:49,526 --> 00:23:51,650 We would not have done an O put 635 00:23:51,660 --> 00:23:53,438 together a mission like this in 636 00:23:53,438 --> 00:23:55,493 coordinating with the USA ID without 637 00:23:55,493 --> 00:23:57,438 thinking about our forces that are 638 00:23:57,438 --> 00:23:59,660 going to be in , that could potentially 639 00:23:59,660 --> 00:24:02,640 be in harm's way . Where's that ? So 640 00:24:02,650 --> 00:24:04,817 again , I'm gonna , I'm gonna tell you 641 00:24:04,817 --> 00:24:06,983 what I said earlier at the top of when 642 00:24:06,983 --> 00:24:09,206 you asked me that exact same question . 643 00:24:09,206 --> 00:24:11,372 We have two deconfliction cells set up 644 00:24:11,372 --> 00:24:13,594 one in Cyprus , one in Israel . We have 645 00:24:13,594 --> 00:24:15,817 aid workers , we have un workers , us , 646 00:24:15,817 --> 00:24:19,810 aid us military ID f sitting together 647 00:24:19,819 --> 00:24:22,130 in a cell for the exact question that 648 00:24:22,140 --> 00:24:24,550 you're asking to deconflict on these 649 00:24:24,560 --> 00:24:26,671 important issues . All right . Moving 650 00:24:26,671 --> 00:24:30,609 on . Yeah , Jalila from the frontier 651 00:24:30,619 --> 00:24:32,730 post , Franco . I want to say a quick 652 00:24:32,730 --> 00:24:34,675 thank you to the Pentagon team for 653 00:24:34,675 --> 00:24:36,619 these nine years the way they have 654 00:24:36,619 --> 00:24:38,397 treated me so nicely . My first 655 00:24:38,397 --> 00:24:40,479 question is about the rumors . A 656 00:24:40,489 --> 00:24:44,170 Pakistani Senator has said that there 657 00:24:44,180 --> 00:24:46,236 was a drone attack in Pakistan . Can 658 00:24:46,236 --> 00:24:48,347 you confirm if the US has conducted a 659 00:24:48,347 --> 00:24:50,569 drone attack in Pakistan ? I don't have 660 00:24:50,569 --> 00:24:52,513 anything for you on that regarding 661 00:24:52,513 --> 00:24:55,069 Afghanistan because of my stroke . I 662 00:24:55,079 --> 00:24:57,246 didn't come for so many years the last 663 00:24:57,246 --> 00:24:59,023 couple of years . So this was a 664 00:24:59,023 --> 00:24:58,979 question that has been on my heart for 665 00:24:58,989 --> 00:25:02,829 a long time since 2001 when the US 666 00:25:02,839 --> 00:25:04,783 went to Afghanistan from the first 667 00:25:04,783 --> 00:25:06,728 veteran who gave his life for this 668 00:25:06,728 --> 00:25:08,617 country to the last ones at Kabul 669 00:25:08,617 --> 00:25:10,728 airport at the attack , 11 servicemen 670 00:25:10,728 --> 00:25:14,189 who died . I have published it myself , 671 00:25:14,199 --> 00:25:16,739 the new stories on front page and I 672 00:25:16,750 --> 00:25:18,972 never , it's an honor for every veteran 673 00:25:18,972 --> 00:25:21,194 to give his life for this country . But 674 00:25:21,194 --> 00:25:23,306 that last day incident at the airport 675 00:25:23,306 --> 00:25:25,639 where the 11 servicemen lost their life . 676 00:25:25,639 --> 00:25:27,750 I believe that the US military should 677 00:25:27,750 --> 00:25:29,790 have lodged an investigation into 678 00:25:29,890 --> 00:25:31,979 Ashraf Rai and Hamdullah Moheb for 679 00:25:31,989 --> 00:25:35,569 having contact with Taliban . And this 680 00:25:35,579 --> 00:25:37,690 question I've been wanting to ask the 681 00:25:37,690 --> 00:25:39,468 Pentagon for a long time that a 682 00:25:39,468 --> 00:25:41,489 journalist from that region for 25 683 00:25:41,500 --> 00:25:43,510 years having hung out with the US 684 00:25:43,520 --> 00:25:45,687 soldiers in Kabul in their restaurants 685 00:25:45,687 --> 00:25:48,520 and reporting for so long . Would you 686 00:25:48,530 --> 00:25:50,697 support any investigation like this or 687 00:25:50,697 --> 00:25:53,510 no ? So what I can tell you about , um , 688 00:25:53,699 --> 00:25:55,588 when it came to the withdrawal of 689 00:25:55,588 --> 00:25:57,755 Afghanistan is there have now been two 690 00:25:57,755 --> 00:25:59,755 different investigations into the , 691 00:25:59,755 --> 00:26:01,810 into what exactly happened . And I'd 692 00:26:01,810 --> 00:26:03,959 refer you to us Central Command for 693 00:26:03,969 --> 00:26:07,400 that . Um We have done extensive , 694 00:26:07,410 --> 00:26:09,466 we've done conduct . They , they , I 695 00:26:09,466 --> 00:26:11,354 should say us Central Command has 696 00:26:11,354 --> 00:26:13,354 conducted extensive interviews with 697 00:26:13,354 --> 00:26:15,521 people were involved in that operation 698 00:26:15,521 --> 00:26:17,839 that were there that day . I can't , 699 00:26:17,849 --> 00:26:20,016 I'm just at this moment , I just , I'm 700 00:26:20,016 --> 00:26:22,071 not going to be able to read out all 701 00:26:22,071 --> 00:26:21,859 the findings from that investigation , 702 00:26:21,979 --> 00:26:24,201 but it is on their website and I direct 703 00:26:24,201 --> 00:26:26,201 you to that . All right over here . 704 00:26:26,660 --> 00:26:29,069 Thanks Sabrina . So last week to CNN 705 00:26:29,079 --> 00:26:31,239 President Biden said that he made it 706 00:26:31,250 --> 00:26:33,420 clear that if the Israeli government 707 00:26:33,430 --> 00:26:35,800 goes into Rafah , I will not be 708 00:26:35,810 --> 00:26:37,921 supplying weapons that have been used 709 00:26:37,921 --> 00:26:40,032 historically to deal with cities . Um 710 00:26:40,032 --> 00:26:42,254 Of course , we've seen the Israelis use 711 00:26:42,254 --> 00:26:44,421 tanks in urban centers throughout this 712 00:26:44,421 --> 00:26:46,366 war and in the latest arms package 713 00:26:46,366 --> 00:26:48,532 which was , um which is now on its way 714 00:26:48,532 --> 00:26:50,643 expected to be approved and was after 715 00:26:50,643 --> 00:26:52,866 Biden issued that statement , um is 700 716 00:26:52,866 --> 00:26:54,921 million in tank ammunition . So this 717 00:26:54,921 --> 00:26:57,032 statement appears to be false . Is it 718 00:26:57,032 --> 00:26:59,088 the Pentagon's assessment that tanks 719 00:26:59,088 --> 00:26:58,880 will not be used in the invasion of 720 00:26:58,890 --> 00:27:02,170 Rafah ? I think you're significantly 721 00:27:02,180 --> 00:27:04,719 over simplifying things . So what I 722 00:27:04,729 --> 00:27:06,839 would tell you to do is to , to do a 723 00:27:06,849 --> 00:27:09,071 little homework on the package that was 724 00:27:09,071 --> 00:27:11,849 approved and that um this is long term 725 00:27:11,859 --> 00:27:14,026 sales that will be going to Israel and 726 00:27:14,026 --> 00:27:16,081 the state Department would have more 727 00:27:16,081 --> 00:27:17,915 for you on that . Um in terms of 728 00:27:17,915 --> 00:27:20,410 operating within an urban area . Um The 729 00:27:20,420 --> 00:27:22,420 secretary , the president have been 730 00:27:22,420 --> 00:27:24,364 very clear that these type of high 731 00:27:24,364 --> 00:27:27,989 payload uh bombs , the £2000 bombs . 732 00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:30,880 Um It's not necessary to be used in an 733 00:27:30,890 --> 00:27:33,420 urban area like Rafa . We are still and 734 00:27:33,430 --> 00:27:35,597 I want to be very clear , we are still 735 00:27:35,597 --> 00:27:37,652 providing Israel the means to defend 736 00:27:37,652 --> 00:27:39,819 itself against its fight against Hamas 737 00:27:39,819 --> 00:27:41,930 and you are still seeing shipments of 738 00:27:41,930 --> 00:27:44,989 weapon systems going to Israel and , 739 00:27:45,030 --> 00:27:47,141 and we'll continue to go through that 740 00:27:47,141 --> 00:27:48,863 is , that is a commitment this 741 00:27:48,863 --> 00:27:51,030 President has made . But when it comes 742 00:27:51,030 --> 00:27:52,808 to that one shipment , that one 743 00:27:52,808 --> 00:27:55,729 shipment is paused in the shipment that 744 00:27:55,739 --> 00:27:58,489 is not paused is 700 million in tank 745 00:27:58,500 --> 00:28:00,770 munitions . And are you saying that I 746 00:28:00,780 --> 00:28:03,002 can read you the biting quote again ? I 747 00:28:03,002 --> 00:28:05,336 just read it to you . You don't have to , 748 00:28:05,336 --> 00:28:07,447 I know it . We're not going to supply 749 00:28:07,447 --> 00:28:07,270 weapons that have been , you don't have 750 00:28:07,280 --> 00:28:09,391 to read it to me . I would direct you 751 00:28:09,391 --> 00:28:11,669 to haven't been used in cities in Gaza . 752 00:28:11,669 --> 00:28:13,669 I would , I would direct you to the 753 00:28:13,669 --> 00:28:15,836 State Department for more on the sales 754 00:28:15,836 --> 00:28:18,058 that has to do with sales to Israel . I 755 00:28:18,058 --> 00:28:17,500 just don't have that in front of me . 756 00:28:18,630 --> 00:28:20,463 I'm going to move on to the next 757 00:28:20,463 --> 00:28:22,574 question . Thank you . My question is 758 00:28:22,574 --> 00:28:24,852 on China's today . Assistant Secretary , 759 00:28:24,852 --> 00:28:26,780 Dr Rana spoke with PR C Office of 760 00:28:26,790 --> 00:28:29,130 International Military Cooper Director 761 00:28:29,410 --> 00:28:31,632 given today's call . Do you think China 762 00:28:31,640 --> 00:28:33,584 is willing to engage in high level 763 00:28:33,584 --> 00:28:36,170 defense discussions with the US side ? 764 00:28:36,420 --> 00:28:38,587 Well , that was certainly a commitment 765 00:28:38,587 --> 00:28:40,587 that was made at the summit back in 766 00:28:40,587 --> 00:28:42,642 California . Um , last year with the 767 00:28:42,642 --> 00:28:45,630 President . Um and you saw a commitment 768 00:28:45,819 --> 00:28:47,900 uh from this building to want to 769 00:28:47,910 --> 00:28:50,390 continue to engage in those uh military 770 00:28:50,400 --> 00:28:53,540 to military communications . Um So we 771 00:28:53,550 --> 00:28:55,930 will engage when we can with our PR C 772 00:28:55,939 --> 00:28:58,161 counterparts . Um But I just don't have 773 00:28:58,161 --> 00:29:00,328 any other additional calls to read out 774 00:29:00,328 --> 00:29:03,260 today . Uh Yeah , sorry , Laura , 775 00:29:04,060 --> 00:29:06,393 thanks . Um , totally different subject . 776 00:29:06,393 --> 00:29:08,449 General Brown said apparently on his 777 00:29:08,449 --> 00:29:10,671 way to Brussels today . I think that it 778 00:29:10,671 --> 00:29:12,560 is inevitable that NATO will send 779 00:29:12,560 --> 00:29:14,530 trainers into Ukraine . Is the US 780 00:29:14,540 --> 00:29:17,010 currently planning to send American 781 00:29:17,020 --> 00:29:19,369 military trainers to Ukraine . Uh Not 782 00:29:19,380 --> 00:29:21,449 to my knowledge , we do do train 783 00:29:21,459 --> 00:29:23,770 training for Ukrainians , um , whether 784 00:29:23,780 --> 00:29:25,891 it be at graf and beer or elsewhere . 785 00:29:25,891 --> 00:29:29,849 Um , and we have trained thousands 786 00:29:29,859 --> 00:29:32,810 upon thousands of soldiers , um , uh , 787 00:29:32,819 --> 00:29:36,339 as part of our long term commitment to 788 00:29:36,369 --> 00:29:38,260 Ukraine , but I'm not aware of us 789 00:29:38,270 --> 00:29:40,430 sending any uh trainers to Ukraine 790 00:29:40,569 --> 00:29:42,625 aware of what John Brown was talking 791 00:29:42,625 --> 00:29:44,791 about . I'm not aware . I haven't seen 792 00:29:44,791 --> 00:29:47,013 those comments . So , yeah , thanks . T 793 00:29:47,013 --> 00:29:46,770 do you have one more ? And then we'll 794 00:29:46,780 --> 00:29:49,058 go to the back and wrap up . Sure . Um , 795 00:29:49,058 --> 00:29:51,058 tomorrow , uh , senior Herman Roger 796 00:29:51,058 --> 00:29:53,520 Pin's family will bury him . Has the 797 00:29:53,530 --> 00:29:55,869 secretary reached out to the family ? 798 00:29:55,880 --> 00:29:59,349 And if not , why not ? And has he 799 00:29:59,359 --> 00:30:01,581 thought about having a wider discussion 800 00:30:01,581 --> 00:30:03,748 with black service members about their 801 00:30:03,748 --> 00:30:05,859 thoughts about this shooting ? Yeah . 802 00:30:05,859 --> 00:30:08,026 No . Uh , thanks Tara for the question 803 00:30:08,026 --> 00:30:10,660 and um , obviously a very heavy subject 804 00:30:10,670 --> 00:30:14,020 and , um , something that the secretary 805 00:30:14,030 --> 00:30:16,560 is , of course , uh , very much aware 806 00:30:16,569 --> 00:30:18,569 of . Um , I don't have any calls to 807 00:30:18,569 --> 00:30:20,640 read out to you right now . Um , I 808 00:30:20,650 --> 00:30:22,761 don't have any engagements for this , 809 00:30:22,761 --> 00:30:24,928 like to announce that the secretary is 810 00:30:24,928 --> 00:30:27,094 doing across the forest but what I can 811 00:30:27,094 --> 00:30:29,094 tell you and what the secretary has 812 00:30:29,094 --> 00:30:31,317 committed to from the very beginning is 813 00:30:31,317 --> 00:30:33,428 one of his priorities which is taking 814 00:30:33,428 --> 00:30:35,650 care of people . Um He believes that um 815 00:30:35,670 --> 00:30:37,939 our , you know , forces should be taken 816 00:30:37,949 --> 00:30:40,609 care of . And that means if , whether 817 00:30:40,619 --> 00:30:42,786 that's seeking help , whether it means 818 00:30:42,786 --> 00:30:44,730 talking about it , uh whether that 819 00:30:44,730 --> 00:30:46,675 means , you know , talking to your 820 00:30:46,675 --> 00:30:48,675 command about it , he wants to make 821 00:30:48,675 --> 00:30:48,410 sure those resources are available and 822 00:30:48,420 --> 00:30:50,364 they are available . Um But I just 823 00:30:50,364 --> 00:30:52,587 don't have more to share at this time . 824 00:30:52,587 --> 00:30:54,642 Yeah . Yes . In the back John Seward 825 00:30:54,642 --> 00:30:56,531 from notice . Um two questions on 826 00:30:56,531 --> 00:30:59,589 Israel , one , a previous training 827 00:30:59,599 --> 00:31:02,010 operation using J loss with the 828 00:31:02,020 --> 00:31:04,020 Republic of Korea had a much higher 829 00:31:04,020 --> 00:31:06,242 throughput . And so just wondering what 830 00:31:06,242 --> 00:31:08,187 the bottleneck is specific to this 831 00:31:08,187 --> 00:31:10,242 situation . Um And then the second , 832 00:31:10,242 --> 00:31:12,131 can you speak a little bit to the 833 00:31:12,131 --> 00:31:14,242 makeup of the military support that's 834 00:31:14,242 --> 00:31:16,464 continuing to flow to Israel aside from 835 00:31:16,464 --> 00:31:18,687 the GB US and JD MS that have been held 836 00:31:18,687 --> 00:31:21,219 back . Um I don't have more in terms of 837 00:31:21,229 --> 00:31:23,260 like more specifics . We've , we've 838 00:31:23,270 --> 00:31:25,214 continued to provide whether it be 839 00:31:25,214 --> 00:31:27,214 ammunition or air defenses , things 840 00:31:27,214 --> 00:31:29,270 that they need to continue to defend 841 00:31:29,270 --> 00:31:31,492 themselves against attacks , whether it 842 00:31:31,492 --> 00:31:34,180 be from Iran that you saw last month or 843 00:31:34,189 --> 00:31:37,050 from Hama . Um But I would direct you 844 00:31:37,060 --> 00:31:39,116 to the State Department more when it 845 00:31:39,116 --> 00:31:41,338 comes to F MS and FMF , the , the , the 846 00:31:41,338 --> 00:31:44,510 sales um in terms of uh the 847 00:31:44,520 --> 00:31:48,319 actual um , capacity to roll 848 00:31:48,329 --> 00:31:51,229 on , roll off of J lots . This is going 849 00:31:51,239 --> 00:31:53,406 to , this is going to be incremental . 850 00:31:53,406 --> 00:31:55,628 It's going to start slow and it's going 851 00:31:55,628 --> 00:31:57,795 to get larger as more aid continues to 852 00:31:57,795 --> 00:31:59,650 come in as well . Um I think the 853 00:31:59,660 --> 00:32:01,882 maximum that we , that we'll be able to 854 00:32:01,882 --> 00:32:05,319 do is 100 and 50 trucks a day . Um You 855 00:32:05,329 --> 00:32:07,551 know , you have to think about also the 856 00:32:07,551 --> 00:32:09,718 size of the marshaling area , the size 857 00:32:09,718 --> 00:32:12,550 of Gaza and then how many aid truck 858 00:32:12,560 --> 00:32:14,616 drivers , you actually have un truck 859 00:32:14,616 --> 00:32:16,727 drivers , you have to distribute that 860 00:32:16,727 --> 00:32:18,782 aid . That all plays a factor in how 861 00:32:18,782 --> 00:32:21,004 much aid can actually get distributed . 862 00:32:21,004 --> 00:32:23,227 So , um , I don't want to necessarily , 863 00:32:23,227 --> 00:32:25,227 I don't want to compare it to other 864 00:32:25,227 --> 00:32:27,227 exercises or other times that we've 865 00:32:27,227 --> 00:32:29,338 been able to do this . All I can tell 866 00:32:29,338 --> 00:32:31,449 you is we're scaling it as fast as we 867 00:32:31,449 --> 00:32:33,004 can and we're trying to get 868 00:32:33,004 --> 00:32:34,930 humanitarian aid in as quickly as 869 00:32:34,939 --> 00:32:37,106 possible , but it is going to scale up 870 00:32:37,106 --> 00:32:39,079 over time . It sounds like the 871 00:32:39,109 --> 00:32:41,189 bottleneck is due to mostly partner 872 00:32:41,199 --> 00:32:43,255 capabilities in the situation on the 873 00:32:43,255 --> 00:32:45,421 ground , not us capability to actually 874 00:32:45,421 --> 00:32:47,532 offload . I would say that there is a 875 00:32:47,532 --> 00:32:49,643 bottleneck again . We gotta , we have 876 00:32:49,643 --> 00:32:49,594 to , we have to make sure that 877 00:32:49,604 --> 00:32:51,715 everything operates and is seamless . 878 00:32:51,715 --> 00:32:53,882 So you're gonna see us again . Go from 879 00:32:53,882 --> 00:32:55,993 that crawl walk , run , it's going to 880 00:32:55,993 --> 00:32:57,993 start off small and scale up and as 881 00:32:57,993 --> 00:33:00,326 more aid comes in , you're gonna see us , 882 00:33:00,326 --> 00:33:02,493 you know , have this be pretty routine 883 00:33:02,493 --> 00:33:04,604 and more trucks getting into Gaza . I 884 00:33:04,604 --> 00:33:04,189 think we had one more lie and then I 885 00:33:04,199 --> 00:33:07,599 will wrap up um and responding to Oren , 886 00:33:07,609 --> 00:33:09,665 you said , I think something like we 887 00:33:09,665 --> 00:33:11,665 don't support ongoing operations in 888 00:33:11,665 --> 00:33:13,887 Rafah . Are you saying that ? And maybe 889 00:33:13,887 --> 00:33:15,776 I missed this , that the Pentagon 890 00:33:15,776 --> 00:33:17,998 doesn't support what Israel is doing in 891 00:33:17,998 --> 00:33:20,209 Rafah right now . I let me , let me 892 00:33:20,619 --> 00:33:22,786 give you a little more context . So we 893 00:33:22,786 --> 00:33:25,000 don't support operations in Rafah 894 00:33:25,010 --> 00:33:27,232 without a credible plan to take care of 895 00:33:27,232 --> 00:33:29,232 that humanitarian population that's 896 00:33:29,232 --> 00:33:33,069 there . Um That population being over 897 00:33:33,079 --> 00:33:35,349 1 million people . We so far have not 898 00:33:35,359 --> 00:33:38,579 seen a credible plan uh to protect 899 00:33:38,589 --> 00:33:40,939 those that , that large population 900 00:33:40,949 --> 00:33:43,599 that's there while the ID F conducts 901 00:33:43,609 --> 00:33:45,900 operations in Rafa , uh we fully 902 00:33:45,910 --> 00:33:49,510 support going after Hamas . Um 903 00:33:49,520 --> 00:33:52,109 We fully support making sure that Hamas 904 00:33:52,119 --> 00:33:55,140 is defeated . Um But again , that is 905 00:33:55,150 --> 00:33:57,510 something that uh we have not seen a 906 00:33:57,520 --> 00:33:59,631 credible plan to pro to protect those 907 00:33:59,631 --> 00:34:03,189 civilians down . There are forces 908 00:34:03,199 --> 00:34:05,366 partnering with the Israelis to rescue 909 00:34:05,366 --> 00:34:07,310 those five American citizens still 910 00:34:07,310 --> 00:34:10,979 being held hostage by Hamas . We are 911 00:34:10,989 --> 00:34:13,322 not putting boots on the ground in Gaza . 912 00:34:13,322 --> 00:34:17,149 We have been very clear with uh our 913 00:34:17,159 --> 00:34:19,103 intent that we want to see all the 914 00:34:19,103 --> 00:34:21,159 hostages released that are currently 915 00:34:21,159 --> 00:34:23,590 being held by Hamas . The president was 916 00:34:23,600 --> 00:34:25,711 very clear though there's going to be 917 00:34:25,711 --> 00:34:27,489 no boots on the ground . We are 918 00:34:27,489 --> 00:34:29,709 supporting Israel by providing 919 00:34:29,719 --> 00:34:33,688 intelligence um uh to help with 920 00:34:33,698 --> 00:34:36,388 ho the hostage rescue and recovery . Um 921 00:34:36,398 --> 00:34:38,565 That is something we committed to from 922 00:34:38,565 --> 00:34:40,565 the beginning of the war . And uh , 923 00:34:40,565 --> 00:34:42,731 well , you might not have been here in 924 00:34:42,731 --> 00:34:42,229 that brief in this briefing . We did 925 00:34:42,239 --> 00:34:44,406 actually announce that . Um , and that 926 00:34:44,406 --> 00:34:46,572 commitment remains , we do want to see 927 00:34:46,572 --> 00:34:48,572 those hostages released . Um You're 928 00:34:48,572 --> 00:34:50,295 seeing engagements across this 929 00:34:50,295 --> 00:34:52,517 administration to see how we can get to 930 00:34:52,517 --> 00:34:54,406 securing a hostage deal . We know 931 00:34:54,406 --> 00:34:56,572 that's the best way forward to release 932 00:34:56,572 --> 00:34:56,309 those hostages and of course to 933 00:34:56,319 --> 00:34:58,375 eventually get to a cease fire . All 934 00:34:58,375 --> 00:34:59,158 right . Thank you , everyone .