LIVE: Blinken holds a press availability in Tel Aviv

tolerate the slaughter of Innocence you've heard me speak to some of the stories that Israelis have experienced on October 7th today we saw additional images additional footage collected by the Israeli government from video cameras some the terrorists Zone uh others in communities that were attacked it remains almost beyond the humid capacity to process to digest I saw for example a family on a a kots a father two young boys maybe 10 11 years old grab grabbing them pulling them out of their living room going through their very small backyard and into a shelter followed seconds later by a terrorist who throws a grenade into that small shelter and then as the father comes staggering out shoots him down and then the boys come out and theyd run into into their house and the camera in the the house is filming everything and they're crying where's Daddy one says the other says they killed daddy where's my mommy and then the terrorist comes in and casually opens the refrigerator and starts to eat from it that's what we're dealing with and it is striking and in some way shocking that the brutality of the slaughter has receded so quickly in the memories of so many but not in Israel and not in America 35 Americans were murdered that day as well and more than 2 foreign Nationals from 35 countries I returned to the region to engage in intense diplomacy with our partners to try to help ensure that an attack like October 7th never happen again and in doing so that we Forge a different future a very different future for Israelis and Palestinians alike that out of this tragedy emerges a better tomorrow for both peoples and for the region there are a number of important steps that we can indeed we must take now to help make that possible first we need to continue to prevent escalation of this conflict it spread to other areas and other theaters the United States has and we will continue to respond to attacks by Iran's proxies to defend our Personnel in the region Personnel who are here in Iraq and in Syria to help prevent the Resurgence of Isis we will do what is necessary to deter and as I said respond to any attacks uh Partners throughout the Middle East and Beyond have a critical role to play in averting escalation and that will be a major focus of my conversations throughout this trip second we need to do more to protect Palestinian civilians we've been clear that as Israel conducts his campaign to defeat Hamas how it does so matters it matters because it's the right and lawful thing to do it matters because failure to do so plays into the hands of Hamas and other Terror groups there will be no Partners For Peace if they're consumed by humanitarian catastrophe and alienated by any perceived indifference to their [Music] plight this is what binds us as human beings I've seen images too of Palestinian children young boys and girls pulled from the wreckage of buildings when I see that when I look into their eyes through the TV screen I see my own children how can we not Hamas doesn't care one second or one iota for the welfare for the well-being of the Palestinian people it cynically and monstrously uses them as human Shields putting its commanders in command posts its weapons and ammunition within or beneath residential buildings schools mosques hospitals but civilians should not suffer the consequences for its inhumanity and its brutality we provided Israel advice that only the best of friends can offer on how to minimize civilian deaths while still achieving its objectives of finding and finishing Hamas terrorists and their infrastructure of violence today I spoke with prime minister Netanyahu and other senior officials about concrete steps to do that President Biden is consistently stressed the need for Israel to operate according to International humanitarian law I also emphasize that the protection civilians must take place not just in Gaza but also in the West Bank where incitement and extremist violence against Palestinians must be stopped and perpetrators held accountable third we need to substantially and immediately increase the sustained flow of humanitarian assistance into Gaza and getting American citizens and other foreign Nationals out of Gaza since we reached agreement with Israel Egypt and the United Nations two weeks ago on mechanisms to enable humanitarian Aid to begin reaching civilians in need we have scaled up deliveries we've gone from zero to now over a 100 trucks going into Gaza through the raffer crossing every day but this is still not enough I spoke to Israeli leaders about tangible steps that can be taken to increase the sustained delivery of food water medicine Fuel and other essential needs while putting in place measures to prevent diversion by Hamas and other terrorist groups uh We've identified mean Ms to enable fuel to reach hospitals and other needs in the South Israel has raised appropriate concerns concerns that we share about hamas's hoarding and siphoning of fuel in Northern Gaza again its cynicism knows no bounds denying uh fuel itself that it has to hospitals uh and other places that desperately need it in meetings with regional Partners I'll continue conversations about getting assistance to flow including including with help from the United Nations um over the last several days US citizens foreign Nationals and critically wounded Palestinian civilians have begun to Transit out of Gaza uh we expect more to leave over the coming days even as these people were able to exit Gaza we remain relentlessly focused on securing the release of hostages including American citizens we discuss these ongoing efforts today our Deputy special representative for hostage Affairs Steve Gillan who came with me on my first visit a couple of weeks ago has remained here on the ground to help bring our people home and also to work with their families we believe that each of these efforts would be facilitated by humanitarian pauses by Arrangements on the ground that increase security for civilians and permit the more effective and sustained delivery of humanitarian assistance uh that was an important area of discussion today with Israeli leaders how when and where uh these can be implemented what what work needs to happen and what understandings must be reached now we recognize this would take time to prepare and coordinate as well with International Partners a number of legitimate questions were raised uh in our discussions today including how to use any period of pause to maximize theill of humanitarian assistance how to connect to pause to the release of hostages how to ensure that Hamas doesn't use these pauses or arrangements to its own Advantage these are issues that we need to tackle urgently and and we believe they can be solved we've agreed to have our teams continue to discuss practical Solutions I've instructed our special Envoy from Middle East humanitarian issues David saterfield who's been doing remarkable work here over the last couple of weeks to continue these discussions uh ultimately we believe this can be a critical mechanism for protecting civilians while enabling Israel to achieve its objectives of defeating Hamas finally and importantly even as we work toward progress uh on each of these urg needs we focused on setting the conditions for a durable and sustainable peace and security the United States continues to believe that the best viable path indeed the only path is through a two-state solution that's the only guarantor of a secure Jewish and Democratic Israel the only guarantor of Palestinians realizing their legitimate right to live in a state of their own enjoying equal measures of security Freedom opportunity and dignity the only way to end a cycle of violence once and for all and it's precisely now in the darkest moments that we have to fight hardest to preserve a path of stability of security of opportunity of integration of prosperity and of Peace not tomorrow not after the war but today thank you first question goes to to Leon brunau with [Music] AFP yes excuse me uh hi Le FR thank you for doing this Mr secretary uh you you mentioned it in your opening speech uh of course and yesterday also you you said that you would you would it was urgent or concrete measures needed to be taken to ease the the fate of Palestinians or civilians um what assurances did the prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave you this morning in your talks and um also on the issue of humanitarian pauses that you say you have discussed and I understand that you said you don't know where how and when but could you give us a little bit more details on what you mean by that exactly I mean is it a stop bombings or what have you could you give us some details on that and then last question very quickly um there was a strike uh yesterday yesterday on afp's office in Gaza where we have a continued live feed uh for since the beginning of the conflict um the apparently a missile strike uh there's serious damage to our office there uh I'd like your thoughts on that at least great Leon thank you very much um a few things in response first when it comes overall to humanitarian assistance uh the Israeli government is committed to providing that Assistance or enabling that assistance uh more accurately to get to people in Gaza and as I said just over the last two weeks uh we've gone from nothing getting in through the Rafa gate to now uh I think uh just today uh well over a 100 trucks uh and as I said that's significant progress in the space of a couple of weeks but it's also insufficient and there's a recognition not only by us of that fact but also uh by the Israeli government as well as uh our Egyptian Partners as well as the United Nations so we are looking at very concrete practical ways to widen the aperture to significantly increase the assistance that's getting in the food the medicine the water uh fuel uh other critical needs for um people who uh through no fault of their own are in Desperate uh desperate need uh and we had a good conversation about that today um again Ambassador saterfield uh who's here is working on this every single day but I'm confident based on the conversations we had that uh you'll see a further increase in the assistance that's getting in to people uh who need it um with regard to uh humanitarian pauses again we see this as a way of further facilitating uh the ability to get assistance in uh to make sure that the um resources are in place as well to absorb the the assist the assistance coming in to make sure that it um gets to the people uh who need it uh we see it uh as a way also and and and very importantly of creating a better um uh environment in which hostages uh can be uh released uh and this is a very important piece uh so as I mentioned already and I won't uh I won't repeat it there are a number of very important uh practical questions that go along with this that uh We've agreed to uh to discuss and work on uh We've agreed that our teams will continue to uh to talk about this in the days ahead um and from our perspective this can be a critical way to advance many of the interests that I uh that I discussed earlier um I haven't seen the details about the um the the strike gon that you alluded to that hit the AFP office in Gaza uh and let me just say and and say again that as we stand strongly uh for Israel's right and obligation to defend itself uh we also believe that it's vitally important how Israel does this including with the highest regard for the protection of civilians and that of course includes journalists journalists who are doing extraordinary work under the most dangerous conditions to tell this story to the world something that we deeply admire deeply respect and we want to make sure that uh they're protected the next question goes to Karen betel with Channel 12 thank you uh thank you SEC secretary Brinker for being here uh two issues kasan asala the Secretary General of kisala is talking right now if uh following his speech or his remark um another front will open in the north will the US actually use its Firepower in the region not only to deter but also to destroy Target in Lebanon or if needed in Iran and and on the hostages um uh the Biden Administration is asking Israel for a temporary pose and we understand it is not a ceasefire but uh do you have any guarantees any assurances that this temporary pause will lead to hostage release and I know you have heard the family of the hostages today outside the the kirab Bas and if May I a can you assure us that uh the United States will not hold Israel back before the main objective of this war will fulfill which is eliminating Hamas thank you thank you uh let me take the second question first um there are no guarantees about anything as a general proposition and maybe even more specifically uh in the context of um the uh the fight against Hamas but uh we are absolutely focused on getting hostages back and getting them back to their families amilies in safety and we believe that among other things uh a humanitarian pause could uh help that effort uh could facilitate it it's one of the reasons why uh we're focused on it uh but regardless our determination uh to get uh get people back um is manifested every single day in our efforts to to do uh to do just that and as I said and said repeatedly and as President Biden has said and said repeatedly We Stand strongly with and behind Israel in its right and obligation to defend itself defend its people and take the steps necessary to try to ensure that this never happens again uh nothing nothing has changed and that won't change um with uh with regard to um Lebanon on with regard to um Hezbollah with regard to Iran we have been very clear from the outset that we are determined that there not be a second or third front opened in this conflict um President Biden said on day one to anyone thinking of opening a second front taking advantage of the situation don't and we backed up those words uh not only with work that we've done with many partners in the region to reinforce that message but with practical Deeds including the deployment of uh two aircraft carriers uh battle groups uh to the region uh including with action that we've uh taken for example against missiles coming from Yemen in the direction of Israel shooting them down uh including as well uh with strikes that we took in response to multiple attacks on our Personnel in Iraq and Syria who were there as I I said earlier to try to prevent a Resurgence in the region of of isil of Dash uh we remain absolutely determined uh in that effort and um I'm not going to get into hypothetical situations but all I can say is uh we're committed to deterring aggression from any part um and we'll take steps necessary to deal with it for the next question Vivian Sol with the Wall Street Journal Mr secretary thank you as always for bringing us along with you um in your travels before we left DC um you stressed that the US was discussing with Israel uh the current conflict and you added we will also be focusing on the day after can you talk a little bit about what that looks like um in particular what is being done to ensure that whatever does come after doesn't spin into potentially short or long-term occupation um and also are there discussions at all to create a multilateral force for Gaza and if so would the US be willing to take part in something something like that thank you thanks here's what what we know and I think is uh agreed among uh everyone there cannot and must not be a return to the pre-october 7th status quo that's unacceptable it's not tolerable for Israel it shouldn't be acceptable or tolerable by uh by anyone else uh and that means that the idea of uh Hamas remain responsible for governance such as it was uh and um and security and posing an ongoing and enduring threat to uh to Israel and its citizens is unacceptable so that's one thing we know we also know that um Israel cannot reassume control and responsibility for Gaza and it's important to note that Israel has made clear it has no intention or desire to to do that so within those parameters um we are and will continue to have discussions with uh Partners throughout the region and well beyond about um what should follow um once Hamas is defeated uh there are a a number of uh possibilities permutations but it's really premature to get into uh any detail about that as important is putting this into a bigger picture um a bigger vision of how we achieve enduring and and Lasting peace and Security in the region and as I said earlier the United States is convinced uh we have been for some time and I think we're only reinforced in that conviction uh since October 7th that the best path maybe even the only path as I said is through two states for two peoples again that is the only way to ensure lasting security for a Jewish and Democratic Israel the only way to ensure uh that Palestinians uh achieve their legitimate aspirations for a state of their own so I think it's important as we're talking about all of this with uh with every partner in the region Israel um our Arab partners and many others as well as the broader International Community that we have that big frame in mind and whatever we do whatever is done also helps to advance that so that's how we're looking at it right now can I just press you Mr secretary because um you're talking about the defeat of Hamas and I'm wondering you know for uh Hamas is not just a bunch of individuals but probably an ideology as well and especially with the intense bombardment that we're seeing in Gaza right now the potential for extremism down the line is high and so you know when you say defeat Hamas is that being factored in and what are you doing then to address those those issues as well yeah Vivan and I uh you're you're exactly right um this is about dealing with uh Hamas in terms of defeating it physically that is making sure that it can't repeat what it did on October 7th but it is also about defeating an idea a perverted idea but an idea that um we have to combat with a better idea with a better future with a better vision for what that future can be and uh demonstrating that we're committed to achieving uh that future that Vision because in the absence of that even after Hamas those who sing the siren song of nihilism will find open ears so it's imperative in our judgment that not not only is Hamas dealt with in a way that October 7th can never be repeated but that we lay out a Clear Vision and a path to achieve that Vision that gives people something to hope for to buy into to grab onto um and I believe that there is a broad and strong Coalition throughout the region that wants to do exactly that all of these countries uh are are on one side of the equation who's on the other side of the equation Hamas Hezbollah and Iran so it's incumbent upon us I think not only to to lay out that Vision but to be clear about the ways that we propose to to achieve it this is not flipping a light switch needless to say um given how Dee rooted and enduring these uh these problems are but um there that we have to we have to address this and we have to address it in in concrete ways and with determination uh because again it comes back to exactly what you said um we have to demonstrate that we have a better idea and a way to achieve it for the final question muhanad Tut tunji with BBC thank you Mr secretary first question the wward is looking to end uh this war when will you ask Israel to stop it and the next question the wave of settler violence is increasing with unarmed Palestinians being killed daily what is the United States doing to address increasing settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank thank you thank you uh with regard to the first part of the question um again I'll I'll repeat what I've said um we stand behind Israel's right and indeed obligation to uh defend itself and to do everything it can to make sure that October 7th never happens again and we will continue to stand with Israel um to uh to achieve that um and as I've also said repeatedly uh the way that Israel does so matters uh and we've discussed uh today U as well as in many preceding days the imperative of doing everything possible to protect civilians the imperative of doing everything possible to get assistance uh to those who need it with regard to extremist violence that we're seeing in the West Bank uh this is something that before October 7th uh was uh a real concern for the United States and one that we repeatedly raised in our engagements with uh with the Israeli government uh and it's an acute concern uh right now um look I don't want to speak for the Israeli government it's not appropriate but I think it's fair to say that what what I heard today was a clear commitment from the government uh to to deal with extremist violence in the West Bank uh to condemn it to take action to prevent it uh to take action uh against those who perpetrate so this is important and we will be uh looking closely to ensure that um our friends make good on that commitment thank you thank you very much thanks everyone