Sec. Blinken let me express my gratitude to my friend muhammad for, as always, very productive discussions. Qatar has been a very close partner on a broad range of issues that are crucial to both of our countries and this region, working together on evacuating americans and others from afghanistan, to cooperating very closely to responding to humanitarian emergencies like the devastating situation in turkey and syria. Were meeting today at what is difficult but also a consequential time for the region in the wake of hamas appalling attack that killed more than 1, 300 israelis and at least 27 american citizens and people from more than 30 countries. Were working with our friends in qatar and those across the region. As israel continues to respond to the devastating attack, the United States will ensure what it has what it needs to defend people. Secretary austin was there today working closely with the israelis to make sure were providing them with what they need and well do that on an humanitarian organizations, including United States agencies to get aid to civilians in gaza. Israel has the right, it has the people and to try to ensure hamas can never repeat what its done. We mourn those who have been killed. Lets not lose sight 6 why this is happening. Hamas terrorists slaughtered, raped, mutilated, tortured, burned innocent Hamas Terrorists slaughtered, raped, mutilated, tortured, burned innocent civilians. Babies to the elderly. Men, women, boys and girls. Huma. And is reportedly huma. Blocking roads to prevent palestinians from moving to Southern Gaza out of harms way. We know the situation is urgent, we are engaged with partners, including qatar, to get aid to those who need it. Your excellency, thank you again for todays very, very good discussions and for all the work our countries have done together. Thank you. Thank you for the question. A few things, as i said a moment ago. And ill repeat it. Israel has now, efforts to get humanitarian aid into gaza are complicated by the fact that hamas continues to use innocent civilians as human shields. And is reportedly blocking roads to prevent palestinians from moving to Southern Gaza out of harms way. We know the amount the situation is urgent, we are engaged with partners, including qatar, to get aid to those who need t your excellency, thank you again for todays very, very good discussions and for all the work our countries have done together. To that end, we discussed with the israelis use every possible precaution to avoid harm to civilians. It is also important to remember the fundamental issue that makes this so complicated. As i said again a moment ago. Hamas uses civilians as human shields. It puts them in places where theyll be in danger. It puts them in places where they are used, in effect, to try to protect hamas officials or their equipment or infrastructure. Hamas uses civilians as human shields. It puts them in places wherecivt be the target of military operations. They are not the target of israeli operations. They are very deliberately the target of hamas actions. I mentioned as well we are very actively engaged with u. N. Relief agencies, the icrc and others to address the acute humanitarian needs of the people in gaza. To protect them from harm and make sure that they have the ability to get what they need. We need to ensure, for example, there are safe areas in gaza. Civilians. We are working through the details on that. And thats a priority for us. To protect them from harm and we are discussing this with the israeli government. We are discussing it with others in the region. [speaking another language] came in contact with some countryies. What of these communications and what are you basing them on . His highness the emir has initiated contact. And i have initiated contact with my counterparts. We are trying to reduce the tension and we hope that this war will come to a halt and humanitarian corridors are secured so that humanitarian aid can reach the gaza strip, and also the civilian prisoners who are being taken from israel we are working on making sure that they will be relieved. The role of qatar focuses on finding solutions to this crisis and avoid the crisis spilling over to other fronts. Our priorities focus on stopping the war and making sure humanitarian aid is delivered and the prisoners come home. Next question from reuters. Thank you. Sheikh mohammed, given the condemnation from the world on hamas attack, is qatar considering shutting down the hamas bureau . Are you prepared to ask the leadership to leave if your western allies. Mr. Secretary, have you asked qatar to shut down hamas. If i may, mr. Secretary, yesterday and just now you said israel has a right to defend itself. But you added that how it does that matters. And you talked about a standard that democracies should strive for even when its difficult to do so. Today israel ordered the residents of gaza to leave and move south, the human palestinian envoy called a crime against humanity. [indiscernible] let me push you a little bit more on this. How does that square how does that order square with that standard you mentioned . And also International Law . Does the United States support this relocation . [indiscernible] and since seeing Prime Minister netanyahu did you give your blessing for this move . Thank you. Sec. Blinken thank you. Your question about hamas. Right now this office as a has a way of communicating and bringing to the region. This is the practice of that office. As long as we are keeping the communication opened right now. And focusing on ending this conflict. Thats what our main focus is. Actually now our clear focus for us the United States sharing with us this objective is how to put an end to this conflict and how to get the hostages back. Sec. Blinken let me start by saying, i mentioned this before, but i want to repeat it. I fully thank qatar for the work they are doing to try to help secure the release of hostages. This is something that we deeply appreciate. I know that other countries do as well. Its something that we are actively pursuing. I have also been making it clear in all my conversations throughout this trip that there can be no more business as usual with hamas. Murdering babies. Burning families to death. Taking little children as hostages. These are unconscionable acts of brutality. Every country in our judgment needs to condemn these actions. Needs to hold them accountable. And we will continue to make that clear. When it comes to providing for civilians in gaza, both ensuring that they can be out of harms way and that they can have access to the support that they need, the humanitarian assistance, food, medicine, water, our focus now is on helping to create safe zones. We are doing that with the leading international organizations. We are doing that engaged with israel. And we are working with other countries to that end. So thats where our focus is. We think this is the best way to make sure that civilians who are caught in a crossfire hamas is making safe and receive the assistance they need. Thank you. [speaking another language] final question. Mr. Secretary, i know the situation in israel is highly charged and very fluid. Are you worried about the medium and longterm consequences of whats unfolding in gaza . Are you worried that israel may be retaliating in a fury because of the horrendous nature of the attacks and might not have a medium or longterm plan . And secondly, im wondering how worried are you about a second front in this war . Iran and hezbollah have made threats of opening this new front. If attacks on civilians or israeli blockade of gaza continues. What would the u. S. Response be if hezbollah ramps up its own attacks, for instance in response to a Ground Invasion . And sheik muhammad, u. S. And israel are both struggling with this tragic and fluid hostage situation the secretary was talking about and it looked for qatar to help navigate it. Can you tell us about your engagements with hamas . And are you optimistic about getting these people back alive given reports that some may have already died in israeli strikes on gaza . Secondly, there have been rising criticisms and protests across the arab world as israels retaliation continues. What is your view of how israel is conducting its military response . Are you also worried about the potential for medium and longterm consequences of whats happening . Thank you. Sec. Blinken thank you very much. First part of the question. No country, no country can tolerate having terrorist group come in, slaughter its people in the most unconscionable way and live like that. What israel is doing is not retaliation. What israel is doing is defending the lives of its people and as i said trying to make sure that this cannot happen again. And i think any country faced with what israel has suffered would likely do the same thing. Imagine if this happened in the United States. So thats what is happening. Of course, its important to think about, as one might put it, the day after. And where this goes. And i believe that is very much a part of israels thinking, as well as our own. And the thinking of many other countries in the region because one thing is for sure. We cant go back to the status quo that allowed this to happen in the first place. So that has to be part of the thinking. And it is. But the immediate focus is on making sure the israelis are protected, defended, and that again, this cant be allowed to be repeated. With regard to a second fund, as you put it, yes, this is something were focused on and have been from day one. We want to make sure no other country or entity tries to take advantage of the situation. The president has been very, very clear about that. He said very starkly that any state or nonstate actor considering that should not, dont do it. And hes backed that up in a number of ways, including as he mentioned the other day, deploying our largest Aircraft Carrier battle group to the eastern mediterranean. So thats clearly designed to help ensure anyone contemplating getting engaged doesnt do it. But beyond that, a big part of my own conversations here, throughout this trip, including today, following up the next couple days, is working with other countries to make sure that theyre using their own contacts and their own influence and their own relationship to make that case that no one else should be taking this moment to create more trouble in some other place. I should mention as well, that earlier today, i had a very good conversation with the Palestinian Authority. And among other things, the Palestinian Authority is acting effectively to try to ensure there is security stability in the west bank, something very Palestinian Authority. And among other things, the much appreciated and they are working as theyve done in the past with israel to that effect. So in each of these areas, yes, this is a focus and very important that this not expand to other places. Regarding your questions on the progress of the hostages, its very early to judge with the intensity right now how hostile they are. But in order to get those hostages back, i think the progress will be determined in the next few days, and we will see if there will be a positive outcome for that. But we are doing our best, they are doing their best in order to get them released to safety. Our view on the israeli response in gaza. We have seen the amount of devastation that goes there now see if there will be a positive and a number of people have been killed throughout this operation is significant, and we believe human beings are human beings everywhere, whether they are in israel or the palestinian, they have the same value. And this is important for all of us and wed like to see International Law applied here and also the same standards applied in any war are applied in that, and were doing our best to keep communication open in order to ensure the humanitarian suffering doesnt continue, and moving ahead with the humanitarian crisis, we cannot deprive the people in gaza from water and medicine and all means of life. We believe the situation is very dangerous. On the future prospect of this, the entire situation is very worrying for the entire region and we believe in the absence of any political advisement and for the palestinian, this issue will keep going, unfortunately. And thats why we need to focus how the day after will be dealt with and how we can create a political horizon and work with the people. [speaking another language] announcer an update on the house speaections. The house adjourned friday with urther progress on finding a basement for kevin mccar republicans try again to find a candidate supported by the entire caucus, but neither of garnered enough support. Tes the conference voted 12481 to nominate jim jordan to the post, but equent poll indicated 55 republicans would not commit to supporting him when it comes to the full house vote. Ers will meet next on sunday at 6 00 p. M. Eastern time. No speaker votes are currently scheduled. Him when it comes to the full house vote. Members willwatch the house liv, reminder, follow the story in the house even if you are away from your television. Watch all Pass Coverage and live events surrounding the speaker selection on cspan now, our free mobile video app, available now wherever you get your apps. Monday diane fully discusses the dangers of reporting and conflict zones. Her son was captured and killed by isis terrorists. She speaks at an event hosted by the national prescribed National Press club. Watch live on cspan, cspan now app, and online at cspan. Org. Announcer a healthy democracy does not just look like this. It looks like this, where americans can see democracy at work