00:00 - Okay, let's go to Washington Post.
00:02 - Hi, nice to see you all.
00:04 This question's for both of you regarding
00:06 going back to the Rafa operation
00:09 and following up on Orin's question.
00:11 So the IDF is announcing plans as recently as today
00:15 to expand the Rafa operation,
00:18 and meanwhile people that we've spoken with on the ground
00:20 say that they perceive what is already
00:23 a full-fledged operation,
00:25 at least that's the perception on the ground.
00:27 Given the Biden administration's statement
00:29 that it will not support a full-fledged invasion of Rafa
00:33 without a coherent evacuation and humanitarian plan,
00:36 are you prepared to declare that it's a full-fledged invasion
00:39 if these actions go ahead?
00:42 And do you think there's a danger that the IDF
00:44 could sort of just do this gradually,
00:46 continue to make sort of gradual expansions
00:49 and incremental push into Rafa
00:52 in a way that falls short of a giant charge into the city
00:55 and potentially try to avoid the US consequences
00:58 that have been threatened?
01:00 Thank you.
01:01 - Yeah, again,
01:04 I've seen what was reported that Minister Gallant said.
01:10 I look forward to talking to him
01:12 about what his plans really are,
01:15 and also getting, talking with Jake Sullivan as well.
01:19 And I really don't wanna speculate as to whether or not
01:23 this is or is not a,
01:26 or will be a larger operation.
01:29 I really would like to see what they intend to do.
01:33 But what we would like to see, again,
01:35 is protection of those civilians
01:38 that are in the battle space.
01:39 Move those civilians out, but not only move 'em out,
01:42 but make sure that wherever they go,
01:44 wherever you move them to,
01:45 that you have provisions for them to take care of them,
01:49 water, shelter, those types of things.
01:53 And I've said before that there, in my view,
01:56 there have been far too many casualties,
01:58 civilian casualties in this fight.
02:00 We need to see something done a lot differently.
02:04 And even if there are,
02:06 if there is kinetic activity,
02:09 if there is an operation that is conducted that's larger,
02:14 we certainly would like to see things done differently,
02:17 more precise, and less destruction of
02:22 the civilian structures,
02:25 and more protection of the civilian population.
02:28 - Well, I would echo very much what the Secretary said.
02:33 In all my conversations with my counterpart,
02:35 it's very much the same.
02:36 Be able to communicate with us what their intent is
02:40 so we understand how they're approaching it,
02:42 but at the same time,
02:43 being able to take care of the civilians.
02:45 And not just move them out,
02:47 but move them into places where they can have shelter,
02:50 have food, and that's something we continually message
02:54 in the gauges I have with my counterpart.
