Giving you a front row seat to democracy. State Department Update on the war between israel and hamas, including getting humanitarian aid to civilians in gaza. Spokes person Matthew Miller highlights the departments Worldwide Travel alert for u. S. Citizens as a result of the rising tensions. Good afternoon, everyone. Good to be back. Secretary lincoln returned to washington this money from an eightday trip to the middle east multiple application of senior officials from the government of israel and Palestinian Authority readers in egypt, jordan, saudi arabia, uae and qatar. He made a number of things there. To defend itself from hamas. Unand that support is unwaverin. That the United States supports the operations of the Palestinian People who are the victim of hamas of hamas act of victim and we believe it is important to establish mechanisms to siblings out on his way and provide them with humanitarian assistance. The secretary pressed with the need to secure the release of hostages and prevent conflict from widening to every official. We return to israel on monday after meetings with officials from other government is able to deliver these messages not just on behalf of the United States but also others in the region who agree israel has a right to defend itself but also innocent civilians protected. The work began last week is ongoing and continued to provide israel with this is needed and you will hear more about that tonight. We continue to work to get assistance into gaza and the newly appointed middle east humanitarian issues met with israeli and egyptian officials today to develop the exact mechanisms to implement the secretary negotiated with israel on monday and the president cemented to secure from both israel and egypt. He continues to be a top priority and according to messages and other countries hostile to israel also other countries continue to be clear. Do not enter this conflict. Upon his return to washington, secretary met with the bipartisan members of congressional leadership on the hill and heard in the region they will continue in the coming days im going to ask you not to interrupt over the course of this briefing. Establish the ground will over the coming days, he will continue engagement and economic to start with committees, i want to get out of the way, do you have anything to say . I do, we have no higher priority than safety and security, we are aware of report in russia, whenever detained overseas, they worked to provide assistance and have not been officially notified about this yet but this is a case we have been tracking since may when the russian government teased passports and prevented her from leaving the country and havent made the details public until now because we thought was not helpful and its why we continue to have level four, one and encourage not to travel to russia for any reason. The russian government refused access when it comes to citizenship so we will seek more information. One more thing and i have to go but other any updates on the situation in terms of getting ministering aid in an american citizens out . On air force one yesterday, his trip back spoke to open to allow the delivery, ambassador met with officials from the government of egypt and israel today in israel to negotiate modalities by which we can implement this so over the coming days, i think what was he, i cant give an exact time but details for managing aid to go in and is open to allow aid to go in and we will get out american citizens and gaza as well. Why is it only access . Is his agreement to allow an estimate on how many are on that route . With respect to trust, i want to speak to the exact agreement, that is a matter that continues to be negotiated and that is on the ground negotiating. The israelis have said publicly and after we met for seven and a half hours to secure this initial agreement monday, israelis have very serious concerns about diversion, humanitarian assistance. They are worried it will be diverted to hamas. We are working out an agreement to ensure any deliveries can be handled appropriately. We will continue to work on that but what we have said publicly and the Israeli Government is clear, we expect military assistance to get in an important civilians in gaza who did not start this conflict have access to food and water in medicine, that is the commitment from the president and we are working out the details. What is being offered on this . We met we are not offering anything. We are telling him we have an interest in getting american citizens out and is the interest of every government in the region, humanitarian assistance will be provided for civilians and gaza not in this conflict. To follow on whats been agreed, spoke about up to 20 trucks being allowed, is it limited to that . We want to see sustained humanitarian assistance going into gaza. The exact discussion about how we implement that, i wouldnt want to get ahead of the discussion but it is our intention goal and what we work to secure his ongoing assistance. Why is it so hard to get israelis to agree . The un is involved, the u. S. Can vouch for this humanitarian aid coming in, isnt it pretty obvious they will need more than this . This is desperately needed aid. They said this publicly and certainly privately, anything going it will be diverted, there is not a military force gaza, people with guns inside gaza are hamas so hamas me divert this and keep it from going to what its intended for. We make clear this will go to innocent civilians and not hamas. We will watch carefully how would it is delivered. We are working on the mechanisms for the delivery. Still in the region . He mentioned engagement, i am curious in the weeks and months, currency is something hamas will be able to do. We will let israel speak to military operations a properly, the appropriate time to do so and the president said yesterday secretary said he was in the region in israel and other countries, its important israel conducts military operations and does so in a way that protects the maximum extent possible and responsibly of any deposits, its what differentiates us from terrorist like hamas in the second question was i reversed the order actually. The same thing we have been working on at the outset, number one, prevent the conflict as a government, sending messages to others hostile to israel booked are the parts of what the president has said and the secretary has said and the fact that we have played to Carrier Strike groups to the region. We want to send a clear message to other countries or entities that they should not enter this conflict and the second thing are trying to do is secure the release of hostages, a number of americans remain unaccounted for in reno we want to secure their release and continue to work on humanitarian assistance the neck lets say they decided to enter, what is the clear message in the bottle of hezbollah . I will not speak to hypothetical messages. Our message has been that they should not enter the conflict and we stand with israel and we will support you. I will get to everyone. We are constantly assessing the safety of the situation on the ground so we can give appropriate travel warnings and guidance to american citizens. We took this step in lebanon activity there that warranted it. Youve seen a number of protests for example. We issued a worldwide caution alert where we advised u. S. Citizens that due to increased tensions in various locations around the world terrorist attacks and violent actions against citizens and interests across the state. Tried to get them released. 32 are deceased. Eleven remain unaccounted for with respect to secure the hostages. It is something we spent a lot of time. The secretary himself was focused on. Inside the building and department and others have been working on it, but i dont think it is productive to talk about. Is there an understanding . I dont want to offer a public assessment of where they may be in the situation. I dont know. I will be happy to check. The director of the department josh poole resigned weird it appears he felt that israel had preferential treatment and checking individual units. Is he right . Number one. We understand, we expect, we appreciate that different people working in this department have different political beliefs. Have different personal beliefs. Different beliefs about what United States policy should be. That is one of the strengths of the government. We encourage them to make very opinions known. We encourage everyone even when they disagree with our policy to make their leadership no. Secretary Antony Blinken has spoken to this. He finds it useful to get conflicting voices. He takes it seriously. It causes him to reflect on his own thinking in terms of policymaking. In respect to this criticism that has been aired, we have made very clear that we strongly support israels right to defend itself. We will provide the Security Assistance that they need. Not only a right, but in obligation to defend themselves against the terrorist attacks. The president and the secretary have spoken to this very clearly that we expect israel to abide by all international law. We will continue to work with them to make sure they meet the highest standards. Go ahead. We do not do interruptions. Go ahead. On cspan. Hello. I think your colleague is asking questions. He cannot say. You know what, you actually dont get to tell people. I am talking to you. Go ahead. On a practical level, the military aid that goes to israel , does it go to the same setting treatment . Where military aid is being gutted. We comply with all applicable statutory requirements and regulatory requirements in the provision of assistance to israel as we do every other country in the world. Go ahead. Thank you. I have seen the report and numbers. Just as i saw the israeli reports. Requesting people mainly. What kind of protection is the United States willing to give civilians. Obviously told to move from one place to another. We keep saying that you ask of israel, how do you see any measure thus far where it has actually taken the protection of palestinians into consideration. We are working with the governor of israel. Not just to get humanitarian assistance flowing into gaza. Not just to get humanitarian assistance flowing into gaza. But also to establish places inside gaza where innocent civilians can be safe from harms way. It is a high priority for us and we are in discussions with israel about it. Do you agree with that going south . I will say that Palestinian Civilians have the chance to get out of harms way. It is appropriate to establish places where civilians can be safe from military attacks and that is what we are trying to do going back because they have been helped time and time and time again. That is exactly why we are working to establish these areas that can be safe from harm. Why would you cast that vito on a call to end hostility where you can get this assistance. All other members is russia and england. Number one, we thought it was very unfortunate that that resolution did not recognize israels right to defend itself. We think it is an important principle. Israel just suffered a massive terrorist attack. Ten15 times when you look at it a per capita basis. [inaudible] i will give you a followup where you can make your point or answer your question. Any country would defend itself in those situations. The other reason we recognize that is there is ongoing diplomatic work about this very question right now. The work that the ambassador is conducting in the work other people are conducting to try to establish areas that civilians can be safe from harm. The resolution that did not exercise israels right to defend itself, we thought this step was the appropriate one. We have increased assault getting a lot of civilians and that seems to be the trajectory. In your, what should it be . We talk about them. What is the endgame . That is a good question. I was just in a number of meetings. Including Prime Minister netanyahu. At the end of this conflict, they want a situation where hamas can never govern and run gaza the way that it has. Launching terrorist attacks against israel. A completely jetta met an appropriate position that any country would take the we also as the president has made clear, continuing to engage with them on how best they can achieve that goal while protecting innocent civilians from harm. You can call it whatever word you want. They want gaza not to be administered. Killing 1300 innocent civilians. May i please finish my question. Thank you. On this situation, can you update us . They have been killed by israeli soldiers. Are you prepared for such an explosion . We have made clear that from the outset of these conflicts, from the very first day, one of the things we are trying to do was keep the violence from spreading. Keep the conflict from spreading to other areas. That is something we talked about when the president met with him twice. Something we talked about with other leaders. Go ahead. Thanks so much. Give us an update on that. What has happened. A spokesperson said still getting information. Have you gotten updates . The United States government at the hospital was a result of a failed rocket launched by militants in gaza. I know it is too early to ask this question. Are you talking is there any relationship for a political solution of something . The political solution with hamas . No. Look, it is something we discussed with the Israeli Government. Discussing it with other leaders in the region. It is something that everyone agrees needs to be a priority in ensuring whatever happens to hamas at the end of the military operations as something needs to be establish and i think that will be good but diplomatic work over the coming weeks. He mentioned many signs. Working very hard. I want to repeat the question. In case there was any engagement , what is the scope of the new intervention . I am not going to get ahead of actual events and speculate what our action may be other than the president has made very clear that anyone hostile can think twice about doing so. Regarding the hostage . There are ongoing diplomatic engagements in respect to this question. This was in the region. I dont think it is productive to the outcome we are trying. I will work the side and then i will come back to you. The egyptian has an immediate ceasefire. There is no cease fire of facilities during that time. The people who threaten the border. Why come to the United States to support the position that during this time it would be a ceasefire. Because, one of the issues that was in discussions with israelis and egyptian officials about his exactly how to open and ensure it can be safely delivered in. Where humanitarian assistance is slowing through southern gaza. Weapon should not be used, especially lethal weapons. Can you make sure it is not used against civilians . It cannot be deliberately used. In one of the tragedies of war, they are always civilian desks. What we try to do is minimize civilian debt to the greatest point possible. That is why the secretary engaged, let me just go back to what i said about the outset. The secretary went and met with Israeli Government on thursday. Met with families of hostages and families giving a speech in israel. How they support israel. And then they went to talk to leaders of the country that i mentioned. Both about the United States perspective. One of the things he was able to do on monday, three days ago, was to deliver a message not just on behalf of the United States, but on behalf of these other countries for the protection of civilians in israel. I think it was at 3 00 oclock in the morning. Engaging about that question. That is really government had agreed not just on our behalf but other behalf of countries in the region to work to establish those mechanisms. The government was pressed on that question. Came out and you saw announcements from the Israeli Government. And you see ambassadors on the ground negotiating the mechanism for which that humanitarian assistance would be provided in the way we would set up to protect civilians right now. Just because it is such a top priority we will continue to stay focused on it. You said that you are sure. I said it was our initial assessment based on the Information Available to us. Let me just say, i dont want to say media critic here, but i will say that i do think this was a reminder that everyone, this includes officials and government, everyone that watches this conflict, it would be wise for all of us to pause and collect all of the information before choosing to decide what we believe and what we do not. I saw a number of reports from the very early days. Taking it at face value. I dont mind our claim skeptically. Everyone has a right to do that. We stand up here every day to defend them. I would hope that everyone would not take claims from terrorist organizations. Because of that, the mistrust and the u. S. Position as well. The administrations defended at a very high level. What the United States approved the investigation . I do not believe that that is appropriate at this time. The Israeli Government has released a great deal of evidence to support their contention. This was a misfire rocket attack from inside gaza that landed on this hospital and killed it looks like hundreds of civilians the u. S. Government is conducting its own assessment. It is unfortunate a lot of people believe in absence of them having provided any absence at all. You are seeing that provide evidence. I know people treat that skeptically. I would hope that people trying to determine what would happen look at the fact that israel has released information and thomas has not. Thank you. From the resignation would the u. S. Consider the policy of unconditional military assistance for israel . By supplying this military you may be involved in any possible war crime against civilians. No. I would say that we have made very clear that we expect israel to conduct its operations in compliance with international law. It is a standard we hold ourselves to. A standard we hold our partners to. A standard every democracy should be held to. We continue to deliver messages to them for their military operations to the maximum extent possible. I have a followup. Would they consider making that as a way for making the attack public . Those are not assessments conducte