Increasing Humanitarian Assistance to Gaza: The Secretary’s Critical Agenda

Increasing Humanitarian Assistance to Gaza: The Secretary’s Critical Agenda

Good afternoon . I will start with some opening comments later today , Secretary Lincoln will depart for his fourth trip to the Middle East since the terrorist attacks of October 7th , as well as to stops in Europe . Over the course of the next week , the secretary will visit Turkey Greece

Jordan Qatar , the United Arab , Emirates , Saudi Arabia , Israel , the West Bank and Egypt for meetings with foreign counterparts and others . The secretary will focus on a number of critical issues on this trip . First , he will discuss immediate measures to increase substantially humanitarian

Assistance to Gaza . The United States has played a critical role in unlocking humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people but conditions remain extremely difficult . The secretary will stress the imperative of expanding and sustaining safe access for humanitarian organizations to deliver food , water , medicine as well

As for commercial goods to enter all areas of Gaza . Second , he will discuss with the government of Israel its ongoing military campaign against Hamas to ensure October 7th cannot be repeated , including plans to transition to the next phase of operations and how to uh uh the steps

Israel can take to better protect civilians and how to enable Palestinians to return to their homes and neighborhoods as fighting curtails . He also stressed to the government of Israel , the need to do more to lower tensions in the West Bank . Third , he will discuss ongoing efforts to bring

Home the remaining hostages including the American citizens who are still unaccounted for . The secretary has no higher priority than the safety and security of American citizens and he will not rest as long as Americans along with Israelis and citizens of many other countries continue to be

Held captive . Fourth , he will focus on as he has consistently since October 7th , preventing the conflict from expanding . He will discuss specific steps parties can take including how they can use their influence with others in the region to avoid escalation . It is in no one’s interest ,

Not Israel’s not the regions , not the world’s for this conflict to spread beyond Gaza . As part of those discussions , he will raise the need to take steps to deter the Houthis attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea . Finally , he will emphasize the

Responsibility of all parties to help chart a path forward for Gaza that achieves lasting security for both Israelis and Palestinians as well as a more peaceful integrated region . Building on the principles he laid out in Tokyo on November 8th and including a sustained mechanism for reconstruction and Palestinian led

Governance of a unified West Bank and Gaza , the secretary also looks forward to discussing with his Turkish counterparts our many areas of bilateral and regional co-operation including the final steps to complete Turkey’s ratification of Sweden’s accession to NATO and the conversations their support for Ukraine and safeguarding regional regional maritime

Security . We don’t expect every conversation on this trip to be easy . There are obviously tough issues facing the region and difficult choices ahead but the secretary believes it is the responsibility of the United States of America to lead diplomatic efforts to tackle those challenges head on . And

He is prepared to do that in the days to come . That Matt , thanks Matt . Uh Can I just ask you if this is kind of a minor uh uh uh a mi a minor point . But so you went through this list of 45

Priorities . But number three , you said for hostages , the secretary has no higher priority , but it’s number three , the ordering of those that is not the , the order , the order in which I listed them is not a ascending or descending order of

Priorities . OK ? And then when you talk about the trying to prevent the spread escalation of this , hasn’t that already happened now ? Um So we have obviously seen , I mean , you saw in the , in the beginning of the conflict , you saw uh strikes sta

Start across the northern border of that Israel shares with Lebanon . We have not seen those strikes increase to uh uh an even more dangerous level as we were worried they would at some point . And as still , we still run the risk of , of seeing take place and we

Are trying very actively to avoid . Um , we have not seen the conflict spread in , in , in to the extent that other countries have been brought into it . Something that we have worked hard to avoid . Yes , we have seen the houthis

Take dangerous actions in the Red Sea and that’s why you have seen us a symbol of coalition work with our allies and partners to make sure that uh to make clear that those attacks on unacceptable . But I , I don’t want to say that we are by any region by any

Step out of the woods . Um This has been a top priority from the beginning , something the secretary and the president recognized on October 7th and October 7th , that one of the biggest dangers of this entire situation was that the conflict would spread and we

Would risk a region wide conflagration . It’s why it’s been one of the major focuses of all his trips and will continue to be a top priority , but it’s not chosen the Houthis attacks and the thus far relatively minor , um , Hezbollah attacks that are that , that

Are putting , uh or giving weight to fear that this might spread . It’s also , you know what’s happened in Beirut . It’s what happened in Iraq in Baghdad today . Um and regardless of who is behind any of it . Um What happened in Iran just the other day ?

There are , is there not a great , is there not a concern that what you had potentially forestalled back in October ? Uh with the deployment of two aircraft carrier strike groups to the Eastern med and um the secretary visits and visit to , to Baghdad and to , you know ,

All around the region that , that , that you’re now that those fears that you initially had after the seventh of October have now come back . So I I wouldn’t say they have come back . I would say the risk is real , the concern is high . It has always been

Real and the concern has always been high and that’s why the temple of activity you have seen from this administration to try to lower the risk of widespread regional conflagration has also been high from the beginning . Um There have been a series of events since October 7th , any number of which

Raise the risk of further escalation and further conflict . And it’s why you’ve seen us try to take a measured approach . Um It’s why you’ve seen us win . Um uh You , you , I would say you’ve seen us take , try to take a measured approach and encourage

Countries in the region to take a measured approach . And as I said in my opening remarks have had direct conversations with countries about not taking steps uh that could unnecessarily escalate the the the conflict and it’s what the secretary will do in this , in this trip . I’ll

Go , I’ll go on when you say that the talks are not necessarily going to be easy that it could be difficult . I , I’m not sure if there’s could you , could you elaborate more on that ? What are the aspects ? I mean ,

Assistance is that we’re expected to be , to be tough . What are the tough parts of ? So I don’t want to hone in on any one specific piece uh of the conversation that I expect to necessarily be tougher than others . But look , you’ve seen a number of

Disagreements between the United States and the government of Israel , between in the region , even countries like Israel who are close allies , even countries who are close partners on which we work uh on a number of issues . So the secretary believes we need to try to make progress on getting

Humanitarian access in the secretary need , believes we need to make progress on minimizing harm to Palestinian civilians . He needs believes we need to make progress on continuing to try to keep the the the conflict from escalating , which is why he’s returning to the region because he

Think it’s important to be there , face efforts . Even if it’s tough , sometimes it’s the job of the United States to do that . So I won’t go through them here . But I think some of our disagreements with our out with , our partners are well known , they have

Been aired in public at , at times you saw them aired , uh from , uh this building two days ago when we made quite clear statements from the strongly disagreed . Uh And we will continue to , then we will do that directly in , in , in these meetings .

Uh Over the next week , just one thing when you talk about the intermediate and substantial increase in humanitarian aid , is there a specific wish list that you have going in , in particularly the Israelis led into Gaza . There are certainly a number of things those for private conversations . I

Will say that generally , we have seen a number of logistical hurdles to deliver humanitarian assistance into Gaza . Obviously , you know , getting Rafah open was a key thing that we were able to accomplish some time ago . And open just in the past few weeks . But

There still remain a number of logistical hurdles to getting the level of trucks back to the level we need . We’re seeing somewhere around 200 trucks a day go in now some days , a little more , some days , a little less that is an increase to from the 100 or

So trucks we are seeing it go in both before the humanitarian pause and after the breakdown of the humanitarian pause , but it’s not enough and we want to see more . So you will see specific asks about uh things that can be done to get

More aid going in . But also specific asks that we will have about additional deconfliction measures that need to take place . So aid can more freely move around Gaza once it gets in and be delivered to the people that , that need it . And then we’ll have asked on

Other areas as well , but I think I’ll keep those private so the secretary can deliver them to his counterparts rather than pre them all from here on the Houthis . You said he’ll discuss the need to take action . Do you expect any deliverables to come out of that or any

Announcements of actions to be taken the trip . We have , as I said , we’re going to be visiting a number of countries and have a number of conversations , but he will make it clear on all of his stops that the Houthi attacks are unacceptable and

They threaten not just the uh commercial inter the direct commercial interests that are involved , the ship and the crew on the ships and the crews on those ships , but also the regional regional economy and the world economy . shipping , a great deal which goes

Through the Red Sea and a great deal which has been diverted now to to longer and more costly routes . And he will make clear as the United States made in a statement yesterday uh with a number of our allies partners that ultimately it is the houthis that bear

The consequences for those attacks . And I don’t want to preview anything further . And then on what happens reporting that Israeli defense officials want to initially hand local management of Gaza over to clans who are traditionally connected to specific cities and sectors replacing Hamas with

Family groups . What’s the US view on this ? And is that a plan needs support ? I’m not going to comment on that specific proposal which I have seen just as a leaked report . So I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to comment on it here . I will say that

What we support what we have made clear that we want to see achieved long term is reunited West Bank and Gaza under Palestinian led governance and that is what we’re working to achieve . We recognize that there will of course that’s the vision you will see the the

Secretary advance in this trip over the coming week . Matt , do you expect the conversations to be substantively different with the Israeli government on this trip versus the last three times ? Given these priorities seem to priorities of our strategic priorities have remained the same since the outset .

But we have different things that we are trying to accomplish on every trip , even though our strategic priorities same . You’ve always , you’ve heard the secretary say , you’ve heard me say , you’ve heard the President say that we want to see the conflict from , from uh

Expanding . We want to get more humanitarian assistance in uh the different uh steps that need to be taken to achieve those change over time because the nature of the conflict changes and the nature of the situation on the ground changes . Uh So while our strategic goals don’t change the things

That we are trying to accomplish always do . Uh I will also say that you will um you will see us um pushing additional steps on uh what Gaza should look like at the end of the conflict . That doesn’t mean I’m going doesn’t mean we’re going to talk about

All of them publicly at the end of the trip . Um But we have been working very hard in this building throughout the administration and quietly with allies and partners in the region and throughout the world on what the , the day after ought to look like . Those

Are going to be some of the toughest ready to go pursue them . Do you allies to be more receptive to these conversations ? Now , given it’s been several months , I mean , most of the Arab allies have said we don’t want to

You know , I don’t want to speak for , for any other country . I’ll speak for the United States . And what I’ll say engage in those conversations . Now , we think it’s important to engage some of the planning now . And that’s what

We plan to do over the , the , what we plan to continue to do over the next week . And , you know , in past trips , the secretary has come out of it saying Israel has agreed to certain steps that that Israel has upheld its agreement to

Fulfill those steps on curbing civilian casualties ? For example , I mean , from the outside , it looks like that has not , we have seen them steps that they agree to in our meetings , we’ve seen them take additional measures to deconflict uh , uh sites to make sure

That that civilian sites are to try and ensure that civilian sites aren’t targeted to do more , to allow Palestinians to move to safer areas inside Gaza . But the results continued to be to not match where the Israeli intentions are . And that’s certainly something that we will talk about . And

It’s , it’s why , as I said in my opening comments , that one of the things the secretary will discuss are taken to further increase protections for civilians . And then last one on the Houthi , how concerned are you that these ongoing attacks are going to

Undermine the truce between Saudi and the Houthis in Yemen ? And what kind of preserve that ? So we think that the cease fire that is held in Yemen for some time , it was an important diplomatic achievement . It’s something that we were that we thought it was

Important that the United States played a role in and we continue to see it hold . But certainly the houthi attacks are not helpful to stability either in Yemen or anywhere in the region or in the world . So it’s yet another reason why we would encourage them to stop

Those attacks immediately . I wanted to revisit some of the conversation that you had with , with Matt and Sean . Um As I’m sure you’ve seen an Iraqi government spokesperson called the strike in Baghdad , a flagrant security of Iraq and a dangerous escalation . So suffice it to say the

Iraqi government wasn’t consulted beforehand and didn’t green light a strike in Baghdad . So I’m not going to speak to strikes from this podium as I seldom if ever do , I will reiterate as I have before that the United States is committed to taking action to protect

Our forces in Iraq and security in Syria by addressing the threats that they face . But I’m not going to speak to a specific strike from here . Ok . Has there been any diplomatic engagement following the strike with the Iraqi government ? As to why it was

Taken , we engage in diplomatic conversations with the Iraqi government quite regularly . As I know you’re aware , I don’t want to speak to any specific diplomatic conversations that we may or may not have had about this specific action . I will say we have clearly consist , we have clearly

Communicated to the Iraqi government that our forces that are there are there at the invitation of the Iraqi government to help ensure the continuing defeat of ISIS and the Iraqi government has the responsibility to do what it can to take action against any actors that threaten us personnel . But

And we have said this consistently from the outset and we have said it privately and we’ve said it publicly that we will not hesitate to take the necessary actions to protect our forces when it is in our interest and when it from the private diplomatic discussions ,

Do you have a public response to this accusation of violations of sovereignty and a dangerous escalation ? I don’t as specific strike here . I would refer to my colleagues at the Pentagon for that . Ok . But just broadly , I mean , you know how as you were discussing , how

Does this bolster these consistent American appeals for containing the conflict to Gaza and preventing that broader regionalization ? Well , I would answer that by saying , obviously we want to prevent the conflict from spreading . But part of that means that people need to stop taking strikes

Against our soldiers . And if they take strikes against our soldiers , we’re going to do what we need to protect ourselves as any country would do one more question related but different ISIS appears to have now taken responsibility for these explosions in Iran . Does the US have any comment on

That ? Any reason to disbelieve that ? Does it track with assessments by the US government ? I will say , let me just repeat again what I said yesterday , sympathy for the victims of what we do believe was an apparent terrorist attack based on all the information

Available . It’s clear to us that this was a terrorist attack . We’ve seen the reports that ISIS has taken responsibility for it . I will say I’m not ready to offer a formal assessment from this podium at this time when it comes to responsibility , but this

Attack does bear all the hallmarks of an ISIS attack . Yeah , the , I mean , the , the uh uh , the Iranians , the , the Islamic Republic is saying it’s the worst terrorist attack since , since 79 years under the Islamic Republic since October 7th . The US has

Often said Israel has a right to defend policy options for Iran . Is there any message is the United States supportive of Iran taking action against ISIS greater action against ISIS ? If that’s the case again , we have not offered a formal assessment . So I think it would

Be premature for me to talk about policy options before we have done that . But I would say we again extend our sympathies to the people of Iran who have suffered really what appears to be a horrific terrorist attack that has claimed the lives of dozens of people .

Are no diplomatic relations between the there’s been any sort of dialogue indirectly between the two countries regarding this ? I don’t have anything to read out on that . Are you saying that if and when you do make a determination that ISIS was responsible that you will go through policy options ?

I wouldn’t want to get into a hypothetical from here . I’m saying , but I’m saying we haven’t made a determination yet . So it would be was the last time you went through policy options from the podium ? Well , internal deliberations , certainly not .

Ok , I have two questions . You said that the secretary will focus on humanitarian aid in Gaza . Uh some um aid organizations saying that by February Gazans will face a famine . So what do you believe that the US can do anything to stop this happening . I

Mean , we’re talking about a famine in the 21st century . Some believe that without us assistance support diplomatically and militarily Israel cannot conduct this war . So we’re not talking just about allowing 200 trucks to to go through Rafah border . We’re talking about a serious famine like we

Have seen in Africa and other parts of the world . I will say that obviously , as you heard me say in my opening comments , the humanitarian situation on the ground in Gaza right now is extremely difficult . The amount of humanitarian assistance that’s getting

In today is not sufficient . It needs to increase . I will say that it is the United States that has been able to broker agreements to get humanitarian assistance in in the first place . So despite the fact that what’s getting in isn’t sufficient to the needs right now ,

It is the United States that got anything in in the first place . And the fact that it’s not at the level why are we are we are continuing to engage uh not just at the secretary level , but when we have our special envoy David Satterfield who is there on

The ground all the time . And I can tell you uh when you look at the work department do , it is engaged in near hourly conversations with the government of Israel with the government of Egypt , with other governments in the region trying to uh unlock some of these logistical

Barriers and find ways to get increased humanitarian assistance to end . ground . We see it , we see it from here . Our people who are in the region see it first hand and we know it needs to be addressed and we know it needs to

Be addressed immediately . And that is it is why you’ve seen the secretary himself engage in this going back to his very first trip to the region . Um I’ll remind you that there was , you know , the secretary that spent hours Israel to get trucks in , in the first

Place . And we’re going back now to try to do what we can to increase the level of humanitarian assistance because of this very , very difficult situation that you point out . Ok , I have another question . Um In the 12 weeks of fighting , 1% of Gazans have been

Killed . Uh We’re talking about 22,000 people . 70% are women and Children . We saw yesterday that Israel was able to go after Hamas leaders with precision as a surgical attack in Lebanon that killed Salah . A . Do you think this war could have been conducted differently to spare the

Lives of women and Children will be considered collateral damage ? I will say that first of all . I would agree that far too many civilians have been killed in this conflict . You’ve heard me say that you’ve heard the secretary say that you’ve heard this president

Speak to this . I would also agree that there are additional things that Israel could do to protect civilian lives and we have had very direct , very candid conversations with them about that . You’ve seen us make some of those additional steps that we think they

Should take . We’ve made those public raised privately that we think they can do and that they should do . And we have seen them take a number of steps to try to minimize civilian life and we will encourage them to continue to do

More . But I will come back to the fact that this is a difficult situation precisely because Hamas does continue to hide behind civilians and embed itself in apartment buildings and in hospitals and schools , which makes this military campaign very difficult to , to conduct none of which is to any

Way lessen the burden that’s on Israel . It has a burden to do everything it can to protect civilian casualties . And we continue to have conversations with Thank you , ma’am . Quick . Follow up on that . And I have questions at what percentage does the secretary believe

That Hamas has already been defeated by now and is ready or willing to surrender ? I wouldn’t want to put a percentage on it from here . That Israel has said that they have killed number of Hamas fighters they’ve killed , how many 1000 they’ve killed as well as ,

You know , a certain level of the leadership . But obviously the campaign goes on . There are a number of the top leadership who have not been , who continue to operate and continue to plan terrorist attacks from Gaza . But so I will leave it to the Israelis to

Assess where they are in their battlefield objectives , to discuss a potential , establish a potential interim government to take over either run by Egypt or other countries . I don’t want to preview specific conversations that he will have here , but I will say that generally , we will

Discuss the need for a combined , combined governance that that unites the p uh that unites the West Bank and Gaza under Palestinian leadership . But what the specifics look like I will keep for private diplomatic discuss , Ukraine a little bit . How long will the latest package that you guys have

Sent already in December will give operations until they run out of funding . I will let Ukraine speak to that because that pertains to and my colleagues at the Pentagon may have some additional insight to offer on question that Ukraine speak speak to because it goes to their rate of

Expenditure and other , you know , really military questions . But I will say that we do need Congress to act . I can we are , you know , out of funding here , we know that we need to continue to support Ukraine . They need , they

Rely on this assistance , they rely on brutal Russian assault that continues even over that continues every day . And so it’s important for Congress to act to continue to fund this democracy that is continuing to defend itself . What is the status of humanitarian aid

As well ? Are you running out of funding for humanitarian aid ? I’ll have to get back to you with an update the latest developments that the war is turning in Russia’s favor ? No , I wouldn’t say that at all . I think people forget oftentimes the

Actual stakes of this war and what Vladimir Putin’s actual goal was and what Ukraine has actually achieved and what it continues to achieve . Remember that Putin launched this as a war of total conquest where he wanted to take over Ukraine . He wanted to throw the

Government out of power . He wanted to subsume Ukraine inside Russia . Not only was Ukraine able to prevent that from happening , which everyone sort of takes for granted now , but it was very not uh it was very much not a settled question at the start of this war . Um

They have managed to retake uh around half of the territory that Russia seized in the opening weeks of the war . And even in the past few weeks , they continue to make battlefield gains . Remember that the uh over the last summer , we were talking about the diff

The difficulty when Russia pulled out it looked like Ukraine wasn’t going to be able to continue to export grain . Well , because of advances that Ukraine made to open a Black Sea lane and expel the the the Russian fleet from certain parts of the Black Sea . They are now

Able to continue to export grain which is critical to their economy . So there are going to be battlefield developments back and forth where you see each side gaining or losing territory . But when you look at the ultimate stakes of this war , it’s exit this war , independent , strong

With an improved economy . And looking West when what , what Russia wanted at the outset was not just a Ukraine that was looking east , but Ukraine that was actually part of Russia . But Putin today issued a decree allowing for citizens to if they fight for Russia in

Ukraine to obtain citizens citizenship , Russian citizenship , both for themselves and for their family members , will there be any measures from the US against those ? So to be Russia citizens , I never want to speak to measures before that before we have

Taken them . But I will say I do think it is a sign of how Russia continues to have to work harder and harder and harder to recruit soldiers for its military to replace the thousands and thousands and thousands who have been killed or wounded on the battlefield . And it

Just speaks to the ongoing toll that Putin has inflicted on his own country , let alone what he’s done to Ukraine and continues to do to Ukraine , the very real human cost that he has conflicted on young men and women of his own country by choosing to launch this war .

It is quite clear that Ukraine will exit , is going to exit this war independent . And why , why is it quite clear ? I think it’s quite clear because Russia , Russia has failed and we do not assess that they are and we do not assess that

They are going to capture Kiev and be able to , you know . No , no , no . We , we see that . That’s funny . No , no , it’s good . No , we , we , we see a Ukraine , we see a Ukraine that

Is able to stand on its own feet has built its economy and has built its military . Look , the battlefield situation will be very tough without additional support for , for the US . And we think we need to continue to support them and we think Congress will

Ultimately be there . But the stakes are very real . But no , ultimately , we do believe that Putin has not , not only has not but will not achieve his ultimate goal . I get , that’s the assessment of what has happened from the beginning of the war until now .

But you made it . No , but I do . I he will not achieve , he will not be able to achieve his ultimate goal , which is to subjugate all of Ukraine into Russia . Ok . But why are you so convinced of that ? Because we’ve

Looked at Ukraine’s performance in Ukraine’s not only there performance on they’ve been able to build their economy and the reforms that they have taken more , more needs to be done on all of those fronts , of course , and not just from the United States , but

From all of Europe and the way that they can , you know , continue to fight very bravely against the Russian army . Well , ok , fair enough . But I mean , when you’re asked in the Middle East , war ? You don’t want , you won’t say

And yet you’re quite clear what the result will be in Ukraine . I’m not at all clear what the result broadly is when there are a number of things that still remain . But there is one thing that I think we’re quite clear about Putin has failed and we will continue

To fail on his overall objective . So I’m not entirely sure why I’m OK . The next question , I wanted to circle back to Gaza the day after . And you know , you mentioned that a lot of your conversations were going to be focused

On that . Can you give us any sort of elaboration on , on what you hope to been pretty adamant that they want a security buffer . Is that something you’re willing to entertain ? Uh We have made quite clear that uh when you principles that the secretary laid out

In Tokyo , one of those principles was that there should be no reduction in the territory of Gaza with all of these questions there , of course , can be a transition period you have right now , the Israeli military conducting major combat operations , they’re not just

Going to pick up and leave and leave a complete security vacuum in Gaza . So transition period of some sort . What exactly that looks like , how long it is . Those are all questions that I’m They’ll be the subject of conversation . Of course , they’re going to be uh uh

Somewhat dependent on what the facts on the ground are . So I won’t articulate anything further than the principles that we have already laid out . But you will see us engage uh in principles about , in , in discussions about some made to uh get to what we

Support , what a number of countries in the region support , which is ultimately the establishment of an you like to see a multinational transitional kind of governance ? I just think it’s too early for me to talk about that publicly . Thank you , sir . Uh The election commission of

Pakistan has rejected the nomination papers of former Prime Minister Imran Khan . Now he won’t be able to contest the elections . Uh How do you assess and fair elections ? So I would say that Pakistan’s future leadership is for the Pakistani people to decide our interest . As you’ve heard me say

Before is in the democratic process , we want to see free and fair elections which are conducted in accordance with Pakistan’s laws and we don’t support one candidate or party over another in Pakistan or anywhere else in the world . So in his latest article , Former Prime

Minister Imran Khan once again came up with the accusation . I know we talked about this many times but the new accusation in that article is that the United States wanted to establish military bases in Pakistan , which he refused . That’s another reason us

Government was angry . Do you want ? I will just say , as we have said before , the former Prime Minister’s accusations are baseless and I think I’ll leave it at that last question . Sir . During the recent visit , did Secretary Lincoln engage in discussions with the

Pakistani army chief and Isa Chief regarding Pakistan’s military involvement in politics . I’m not going to get into private diplomatic clear it is for the Pakistani people to choose their government . Ok , Matt , thank you , Matt . Uh when the US gives foreign aid is funding for abortion and

Birth control and included in that it is so is the aid conditional and I have a follow up . I’m just gonna say that with respect to that . we follow all relevant US laws and regulations . Ok . In light of Catholic church and e evangelical Christian church membership

In opposition to abortion , does Secretary Blinken expect a change in foreign aid policy regarding abortion ? Uh I do not expect any changes from our existing policy . Ok , thank you . Um The US has been fighting against ISIS for years now and there is irreconcilability with some of the

Allies over how the US does that especially in Syria . Uh How is that ISIS is still strong enough to carry out such a terrorist attack ? Uh And what is the US assessment assessment on ISIS ability to recruit among uh Iranian Sunnis ? Uh So I will say that

The that that ISIS has obviously been significantly degraded uh from its peak , but it continues to be a concern of ours that it would have the ability to regenerate and regrow and expand . It’s why you have seen US forces maintain a presence in Iraq at the invitation of

The government of Iraq as well as in Syria . Exactly . To counter this very problem that ISIS continues to exist and wants to continue to carry out terrorist attacks around the world . So But other than to say that it is important that we keep our eye on the

Ball and not lose sight of the fact that ISIS remains a brutal terrorist organization that needs to be countered . The Iraqi government invited . Yes . But also today , the spokesman said that no different act from a terrorist act for the latest attack against Muja

Movement . Commander Abu Tawa . Uh there should be a , a kind of misunderstanding . So again , I’m not going to comment on this specific attack , but I will say that when groups and individuals take action , targeting us forces , the United States

Will not hesitate to defend itself . Thanks Matthew , could you confirm the US assassinated Iran backed militia leader Mushtaq , Talib Alsa EDI in Baghdad today ? I think I’ve just spoken to this . I’m sorry , can you repeat , reiterate ? Uh IIII I don’t

Have , I mean , I have just spoken to this several times already . I don’t I’ll refer to the Pentagon . And does the Department have any reaction to a house report that the Chinese spend $5.5 million at Trump properties during President Trump’s tenure ? I certainly

Do not . Um And also , and the administration has talked about Israel needing to avoid civilian deaths . So using that standard . Has the US told Ukraine to do the same thing amid Putin’s illegal invasion . Otherwise , how is this not a double standard um

For Ukraine to avoid civilian deaths ? Certainly , we always want to see any country engaged in conflict follow the laws of war , comply with international humanitarian law and do everything it can to minimize civilian casualties . That was three . Let me go ahead .

Thank you . Said that there is a determination by the State Department that you have not seen Israel commit acts that constitute genocide at this point . So has the formal process on determining whether Israel has committed atrocities been launched again . I’m not going to speak to

Internal deliberations as it relates to atrocities and it , as it relates to war crimes . So what was the process used for determining that you haven’t seen acts of genocide ? I’m not going to speak to all of the internal deliberations and the processes that we

Go through . I will say that when you look at these various categories , genocide is a very specific thing that looks different than say when it comes to war crimes , where any individual individual action can be a war crime and takes a , you know , a very

Laborious legal process which is not to say that that genocide doesn’t , but different thing just based on the on the definition . So I’m not going to get into the internal processes , but we’re comfortable making the statement we made about genocide . I know , I

Know you said you were collecting information when it comes to atrocities but has a process been launched when it humanity . Again , we are collecting information as we always do , but I’m not going to speak to beyond , beyond that petition to the IC .

Are you guys planning to weigh in on that at all ? In any way ? I don’t have procedure is I would say , I don’t know that I was about to say , I don’t know that there’s a procedure in support of Israel or Yeah . Yeah , let me just say

Not . I don’t even know if there’s a procedural way for us to do that or let alone if we’ve made the decision whether to do so or not . Um I pursue on , on , on genocide but something different in a different country

Perhaps . Uh Sudan . Um The uh um obviously there’s determination a couple of decades ago in Darfur , the secretary has spoken about atrocities . sort of process whether genocide is ongoing in Darfur ? Uh Let me take that back and get and get you an answer . OK ,

Leader uh Doug low is doing a tour in Africa . I think he’s going to South Africa now . He’s in , in other parts of the continent , Kenya . Does us have any stance on that . Whether he should , or whether he should be received . I

Will , I’m not going to comment on that specifically . Other than that we would say , hopefully any foreign leader who engages in a conversation with either a member of the leadership of the RSF or the membership of the leadership of the SAF should send a very clear message

That there’s no acceptable military solution to the conflict in Sudan that we want to see both parties return to the negotiating table that we want to see a ceasefire that is actually adhered to and we want to see both parties , both parties of this conflict , stop their brutal attacks on civilians

And actually take actions that are in the interests of the people of Sudan . Sure could I have something completely unrelated um back on the trip . Uh Do you have anything to say about why he’s visiting Greece ? I mean , obviously this is right after Turkey . Obviously ,

Is it about the F-16 issue specifically or is it more so , as I said in my opening comments , he’s , you know , Greece is , is an important NATO ally and he’s looking forward to visit there to talk about Greece’s support for Ukraine , which has been long standing

Really since the outset of the conflict , safeguarding regional maritime security . And there will be other issues that we’ll talk about as well that I’m sure we’ll read out afterwards . Reports of a US coordinate operation that resulted in the release or in the evacuation or

The extraction of a mother and uncle of a US service member . Is there any comment that you have to confirm that report ? Is this a widespread practice that the US is engaging in ? So I will say that we have engaged since the outset of this conflict to do what we

Can to help American citizens and their family members uh safely depart from Gaza . I can’t get into all the specifics of this case . I’ll say that we played more of a liaison role that wasn’t an operational presence by any US forces or us personnel there to help

These , these family members escape . But we were glad to see them make their way safely out of Gaza and we’ll continue to work to do what we can to facilitate the partner of others . When you say liaison role , is there And are there others like it in which

The US is coordinating among parties to help people leave on a there’s nothing more I can say about this case because we played a liaison role . We don’t on the ground in Gaza who can , you know , actually play and do anything operationally to help American citizens

Get out . But we do stay in contact with those American citizens who want to leave and try to do what we can to facilitate their departure . We’ve helped over 1300 us citizens and family members and lawful permanent residents leave Gaza and will continue to work to

Help others . Ok . Sorry . And just if you are in a position to provide an update as to how many remain , who want to leave , I don’t have an update on that . We have changed the way that we us do in other conflict zones .

Because when o over time , the nature of how we look at it and the nature of our conversations with people changes , we had , I think , you know , last week , I said several 100 that were remaining to leave . That number has probably , they probably stayed

Somewhat consistent . But there are a number of people in that group who have leave Gaza for some time that haven’t done . So that may be that because they can’t make it to Rafa to make it out . It may be um because they’ve changed

Their mind and don’t want to leave . Uh maybe because they have family members that they don’t want to leave behind or because of other uh uh considerations . American citizen that still uh want to leave and we’re in communication with them . But it’s very hard to put a

Fixed number in it o on that question because of so many people who either have left and not told us or um have said they want to leave and then opportunity to . It’s tough for us to give a , an exact number at this point .

Thank you . Thank you , man . Uh You talk about today’s attack in Iraq and that the attack was conducted on the element . That was what the Iraqi government says that was operating under the Iraqi Prime Minister’s authority . I’m not asking about this specific attack today and this specific

Element that you attacked today . I think I had some deja vu yesterday where you said I’m not asking you about But go ahead , I feel I feel a trick coming in your general assessment . Do you believe that there are elements and groups in Iraq that’s operating ? And

That the Iraqi Prime Minister is attacking you and threatening you forces in Iraq . I’m not going to speak to that specifically . I will just we’ve been very clear with the government of Iraq and I don’t think that we think they need to take additional steps to um uh protect us

Forces who are there at their invitation and to hold accountable those who have launched attacks against us forces , whoever they may be has , has anyone from the Iraqi government or from the embassy requested the United States to set a deadline for the US forces withdrawal from Iraq . I I am

Not aware of any such request . Go ahead given the resolve to group in Afghanistan and based on the recent claim by ISIS about attacking Iran , how does the US is going to address this issue in Afghanistan as a safe zone for tour as a safe zone for

Group in A I will say that we continue to um uh make clear to the Taliban that they have counter terrorism commitments that we expect them to adhere to . We maintain our capabilities to monitor the situation and respond to terrorist activity that we see . Despite the fact that there is

No more us presence in Afghanistan , we demonstrate that when we took out the leader of Al Qaeda in July 2022 and we will continue to act to protect Americans . So back in Ukraine , um you said yesterday that uh you know , you haven’t shifted the , the strategy

Towards Ukraine , but uh um we stopped hearing from you . Uh you know , the phrase , uh you’re gonna support Ukraine as long as it takes . And the , at the press conference , uh secretary uh said that the main goal um is

To uh for Ukraine to , to be able to stand on its own 2 ft . That , that seems like a shift , at least rhetorically , uh can you address that ? And um the White House just released that um uh Russia has fired uh the ballistic missiles from the

Updated from the D pr K . Yeah , I speak to that . Um So II I could speak to that but the , the last one , but I know that um my colleagues at the White House at least were planning to speak don’t , I don’t have anything to add .

It would be basically the same , same information . Uh But yeah , other than that , yes , we have seen um uh Russia uh uh working to obtain uh ballistic missiles from Iran that they have not yet used and we’ve seen them uh obtaining ballistic missiles from North

Korea and actually using those and , and beyond that , the White House has don’t think , I don’t , I don’t think I need to repeat them , but with respect to the broader question , no , there has been not any , not any change in

Strategy and two , I don’t think there’s any tension between those two comments . We have always made clear that we want Ukraine to be an independent country and that means that can stand on , that can stand on its own 2 ft . We will continue to support

Ukraine . It is the policy of the United States as long as it takes , that does not mean that we are going to continue to support them at the same level of military funding that we did in 2022 and 2023 . We don’t think that should be necessary because the goal is

To ultimately transition Ukraine to use the language that you repeated back to stand on its own feet and to help Ukraine build its own industrial base and its own military industrial base . So it can both finance and build and acquire munitions on its own . But we

Are not there yet . And that is why it is so critical that Congress passed the supplemental funding bill because we can defend itself just based on its own . And it’s why that continues to be important for Congress to support Ukraine and continues to be important for our European allies and others

Throughout the world to support Ukraine and finish on the trip to Greece . Do you expect any specific results regarding the support for Ukraine ? Because you mentioned that the main topic of the discussion we’ll have more to say after at the conclusion , the meetings , caucuses Army Azerbaijan .

As I understand , secretary invite ministers to come to Washington by the end of the year . That didn’t pan out . Moscow urged foreign governments not to interfere into Azer , not to not to interfere into Ajami peace process . Is it too simplistic for me to say that

Russia is preventing you from moving forward on this ? It is , I never want to say what’s too simplistic or not for you , Alex . You’re a very sophisticated guy , but no , Russia does not in any way prevent us from conducting the important diplomatic

Efforts we think are necessary for continue to pursue them to have the minister stay tuned . We’ll have an announcement to make when we have a meeting . My second topic . If I may , you’re killing me here . You’ve had questions . I’m trying to go to one

Other person in the briefing . Last one . The Russian land grab in , in , in occupied Georgian territory of Abha , the US condemned the effort . But is it reversible ? Is there anything else you could do legally militarily to help Georgia to get that land back ? We will

Continue to be focused on this matter , but I wouldn’t want to preview any specific steps . Follow up on the question earlier about the Pakistani election . You said it is for the Pakistani people to choose their mentioned , is the former Prime Minister in jail at the time , but

You’re also seeing something rather extraordinary where members of his party who are filing to run for office . And there’s a lot of video evidence have seen this , they’re filing to run for office and they’re being arrested and abducted at the at the filing office . They’re also arresting the

Quote unquote , approvers people who signed their petitions as well . So you’re not going to have any candidates for the people to choose from . So how can Pakistani people choose their government if there’s nobody to choose from on , on the ballot . And is this

Something that is concerning ? So I will say without commenting on that the specific matters , we want to see free and fair elections that are conducted in accordance with Pakistan’s laws . It’s not for the United States to dictate to Pakistan how it conducts the exact specifics of how it conducts its

Election . But to make clear that we want to see those elections conducted in a free , fair and peaceful manner that includes freedom of expression , peaceful Assembly and association , and ultimately a full open , reliable , vibrant democratic process . But it feels like election rigging of this

Level would merit sanctions . If any other . If a maduro like government did something like this , it would seem like state department might come down a little harder . This is 250 million person democracy and we will continue to support democratic expression and a vibrant democracy in Pakistan . But I

Don’t have anything to prove from here . You will continue to support democratic suppression . I said expression , expression , expression . I’m not going to let you trick me into correcting correcting myself unnecessarily again , expression . All right . Thank you , everyone . Are you sure ?

I will start with some opening comments later today, Secretary Blinken will depart for his fourth trip to the Middle East since the terrorist attacks of October 7th, as well as to stops in Europe.

Over the course of the next week, the secretary will visit Turkey Greece Jordan Qatar, the United Arab, Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the West Bank and Egypt for meetings with foreign counterparts and others. The secretary will focus on a number of critical issues on this trip. First, he will discuss immediate measures to increase substantially humanitarian assistance to Gaza. The United States has played a critical role in unlocking humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people, but conditions remain extremely difficult.

Department of State Daily Press Briefing – January 4, 2024.

Defense Now – January 2024

Scheduled from Jan 04 2024 12:20 PM EST to Jan 04 2024 1:24 PM EST

Film Credits: U.S. Department of State

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