Press Grills State Dept Spokesperson Over Al-Jazeera Journalist & Cameraman Killed In Israeli Strike

4 months ago

During a State Department press briefing, Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel was grilled about an Israeli strike that killed an Al-Jazeera journalist and cameraman in Gaza.

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00:00I, like everyone in this room and around the country, feel grateful that they have been

00:05released and reunited with their families. It's a good day. So, in the same thing,

00:13journalists should not be punished for what they do anywhere in the world.

00:16That is absolutely true, Saeed.

00:18What we have seen yesterday is a premeditated crime to kill a journalist for doing their job.

00:23They were right there in front of Ismail Haniyeh's home, just to show the destroyed home

00:30from our, you know, our colleague from Al-Jazeera, Ismail Ghul and his cameraman,

00:35Rami. And they were told by the Israelis to leave the scene. They did. They got in their car and

00:41they moved. And then they were bombed. I mean, this is, that is summary execution, isn't it?

00:47Saeed, I spoke to this a little bit yesterday. And the good news that we have relating to

00:56these American citizens who have returned, who will be returning to the United States,

01:02I don't have an update on this other situation for you, Riyadh.

01:05Let me just say, because you've asked the question, the reports that you mentioned yesterday

01:10as well, we've seen those reports. We're tracking the details. We continue to engage with our

01:14partners in Israel about any additional information. But beyond that, when we have

01:21talked about journalists who have been killed in Gaza, this is something that the Secretary has

01:30spoken to a great deal. We have time and time again offered our – not just our condolences

01:37to Palestinian journalists killed in Gaza, but we have attempted to make clear just how vital

01:44the work of journalism has been to showcase the ongoing dire conditions in the Gaza Strip

01:51and how key certain outlets and certain media organizations, including Al Jazeera, have been

01:57to that line of effort. And that's something we will continue to not just say publicly,

02:02but we will raise privately with partners in the region. We'll continue to stress

02:06with our partners in Israel as well.

02:08Now, there are also dozens of Palestinian journalists who are currently detained by

02:14Israel. Overwhelmingly, they're not charged with anything. They're held under administrative

02:19detention and so on. Do you call on the Israeli Government to either charge those journalists that

02:25are being held under administrative detention or let go?

02:29Look, Said, we've been clear and consistent that Israel needs to treat all detainees humanely,

02:35with dignity, and in accordance with international law, and it – the detainees' human rights must

02:40be expected – respected. Beyond that, I'm just not – I don't have specifics as it relates to

02:45these specific cases to speak to. But certainly, you urge the Israelis

02:50to release those who are not charged with anything if they don't charge them.

02:55I'm not going to speak to specific cases in the judicial system that I'm not tracking,

03:00but what I want to say, again, is that we've been clear and consistent that

03:04Israel must treat all detainees humanely. Okay. A couple more quick ones. Was there

03:11any communications with the Palestinian Authority from U.S. officials to the Palestinian officials

03:17in the aftermath of the assassination of Smaed Aniyar?

03:21I'm not aware of any specific conversations to right now.

03:24Is there – I'm happy to check if there's anything, Said, but I'm not aware of.

03:27Okay. And lastly, I want to just bring to your attention that an Israeli lawmaker

03:35was asked about the alleged rape of the Palestinian detainee, and he basically said,

03:41yes, it is legitimate. And as we look at the story, it is really appalling. I mean, it seems – pardon

03:48me for the graphic description that I'm about to describe, but they took a cell phone and they

03:55shoved it up gluteus – his gluteus maximus all the way to the intestine, and they were

04:02calling the phone – Said – the Israeli soldiers. This is documented.

04:05So – I mean, how – don't you find this appalling?

04:08We are aware of these concerning reports, and of course, if they are true, they are appalling.

04:16The IDF itself has indicated that it is looking into these allegations, and we, of course,

04:21welcome that. It is essential that the rule of law and due process prevail, and in democracies

04:28no one is above the law. And so we are going to let the process play out here.

04:32But of course, these reports are incredibly concerning. But there is an investigation

04:37taking place, and therefore I don't want to offer any judgment until that process has concluded.

04:45Okay. And lastly, on the negotiations, any update on the negotiations? Are they ongoing?

04:49Are they likely to resume? Are they frozen? What is your assessment?

04:54As I said as recently as yesterday, Said, we continue to believe that a deal is

04:58not just urgent but also achievable. We're going to continue to remain focused on working

05:03around the clock to narrow some of the gaps. Getting this deal done to bring the hostages

05:08home, to end the violence in Gaza, is incredibly important. And for those of you that heard the

05:13Secretary at his press conference in Mongolia overnight, he echoed the very same thing.

05:20Daphne.

Press Grills State Dept Spokesperson Over Al-Jazeera Journalist & Cameraman Killed In Israeli Strike

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