Press Release
☷Secretary Blinken s Remarks to the Press United States Department of State
U.S. Department of State ( By Press Release office)
Mar 15,2024
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Hey everyone , good afternoon . So last week , in his State of the Union address , the President told the military to build a temporary pier in Gaza to help get humanitarian aid to those who really need it . I just had a video conference with some colleagues from Cyprus , the UK , UAE , Qatar , the EU , and the UN to coordinate our efforts in getting this maritime corridor set up . We ' re also working with Israel on this . Once it ' s up and running , this corridor will be able to distribute up to 2 million meals every day , as well as medicine , water , and other important supplies . Germany , Greece , Italy , the Netherlands , and Canada are also supporting this . It ' s going to take some time to get everything sorted , but we ' re working on it as fast as we can . I want to make it clear though , this is meant to complement other ways of getting aid into Gaza , not replace them . Overland routes are still the most important way to get assistance to the people who need it . But this will help close the gap , and it ' s part of our strategy to make sure we ' re doing everything we can to support those in need . The US has been leading the charge to ensure aid gets to where it ' s needed , but it hasn ' t been without its challenges . We ' ve had some ups and downs , interruptions , and disruptions . However , we ' re starting to see progress . Humanitarian aid is starting to flow again through Rafah and Kerem Shalom , with around 200 trucks a day . Yesterday , the World Food Program was able to resume aid delivery to Gaza , and Morocco made its first delivery through Kerem Shalom . This week , shipments to north Gaza through a new crossing began . We ' re also working on accelerating inspections and road repairs to increase the flow of supplies from Jordan into Gaza , which is a critical route . So , things are moving in the right direction , but there ' s still more to be done . Israel needs to open more access points and keep them open to ensure a smooth flow of aid into Gaza . This includes increasing scanning and inspection capacity at Kerem Shalom , easing restrictions on key products , and providing clarity on what can and cannot enter . Distribution within Gaza is also crucial , with improved communication and coordination with humanitarian organizations and community leaders . The goal is to provide ample humanitarian assistance to Gaza to not only provide comfort to those in need but also to reduce insecurity and lawlessness in the region . While increasing aid is important , the most effective way to do so is through a ceasefire and a more conducive environment for aid delivery . So , the question is , will Hamas actually do it? Do they really want to end the suffering they ' ve caused? We ' re constantly working with Qatar and Egypt to try and reach a ceasefire agreement that will help the hostages , bring in more aid , and hopefully find a lasting solution . The hostages are our top priority , and it ' s heart - wrenching to hear about the loss of Itay Chen . We ' re doing everything we can to bring them home and ensure humanitarian aid reaches those in need . It ' s important for Israel to prioritize protecting civilians and providing assistance while defending their country . As for the meeting today , we discussed ways to speed up aid delivery to Gaza . As for the strained relations between President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu , we continue to push for aid delivery and hope for a peaceful resolution . Thank you for your questions . Regarding the meeting today , we mainly discussed the maritime corridor and the pier that the President mentioned in the State of the Union . The focus was on the countries involved in establishing the pier and setting up a system for collecting and delivering assistance by sea . We are following up on the President ' s message and working hard to get this project moving . The military is also heavily involved . It requires coordination among donor and participating countries , as well as Israel . This effort is important , but it doesn ' t replace other ways of providing humanitarian aid to Gaza , especially overland access . As for your second question about Israel ' s role , I can ' t speculate . We are working with Israel and other countries to ensure aid reaches those in need and civilians are protected . It ' s an ongoing effort and we need to maximize our efforts in that direction . The President has made it clear that this is a priority and it ' s in Israel ' s best interest to prioritize it as well . Now , moving on to your next question about Haiti . . . And have you gotten any plan , as Israel asked , for taking care of the people in Rafah if the prime minister decides to go in after those last four battalions? Also , there ' s a similar disaster happening in Haiti , but is there a U . S . plan to help with relief? It ' s been five months since the UN approved the Kenyan multinational force , but the supreme court there has objected . It ' s going to be a while until they can go in , if they even agree to . What emergency relief can we give to the people of Haiti to help with the growing disaster? Thank you . SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thanks , Andrea . So , going back to the first question , we ' ve been focused on two things: making sure Israel can defend itself and preventing another October 7th . We ' re there as Israel ' s ally and partner . We ' ve also been determined to protect civilians and provide humanitarian assistance as Israel defends itself . These two objectives are not in conflict . The question is whether Israel can effectively address its security needs while also ensuring civilian safety and aid distribution . We want to end the violence and ensure civilians are protected and supported . The best way forward is to reach an agreement on hostages , which we ' re working on every day . Regarding Rafah , the President has been clear that we need a plan to evacuate civilians and provide them with shelter , food , and medicine if there ' s a military operation . We haven ' t seen such a plan yet . On Haiti , the suffering of the Haitian people needs to come to an end . That requires a few things . We just need a more stable political system in place so the country can function properly and democratically . This means transitioning to elections and returning to a democratic path . We also need assistance in terms of humanitarian and development aid to boost the economy and create opportunities for the people . Security is crucial too , as it ' s hard to achieve the first two goals in an unsafe environment . Right now , Haiti is facing insecurity primarily due to gang activity in the capital city . We ' re working on various fronts to address these issues , including a Multinational Security Support Mission endorsed by the United Nations . Kenya has stepped up to lead this mission with support from other countries . In addition , we ' re collaborating with CARICOM and other partners to help Haiti navigate a political transition . Recently , Prime Minister Henry and his government stepped down , and a transitional presidential council is being established to oversee the selection of a new prime minister , establish a national security council , and set up an electoral commission . This will pave the way for elections and a constitutional government . President Ruto of Kenya has confirmed their readiness to lead the security mission once the new council is in place . The Department of Defense is also increasing its contribution to this effort . So , we ' ve got $200 million coming from the DOD , another $100 million from the rest of the US Government , and almost $100 million from other countries , including Canada , for the Multinational Security Support Mission . With all this funding , we believe the mission can move forward and help restore security and take control of the country from the gangs . The political transition is also progressing , with an interim presidential council and prime minister , and new bodies being set up for elections . This will create a better environment to provide assistance , kickstart development , and create opportunities for people . It won ' t be easy and won ' t happen overnight , but there ' s a plan in place , led by Haiti and supported by many countries worldwide . Now , onto your questions . President Biden has stated that military aid to Israel won ' t be suspended in a way that affects things like the Iron Dome . As for offensive weapons , the US would consider putting conditions on them . Regarding the statement by the EU foreign policy chief about Israel using starvation as a weapon of war , I don ' t agree with that . As for the manmade famine in Gaza , I can ' t say who is responsible without more information . Lastly , I ' ve seen reports of an Israeli air strike on a UNRWA aid distribution center in Rafah . Our condolences go out to the families affected by this strike . The IDF is currently investigating the incident , and we ' ll closely monitor the results of that investigation . Finally , let me reiterate our commitment . We are dedicated to ensuring Israel ' s ability to defend itself and provide for its own security . It ' s an enduring commitment . Thanks for bringing that up . The Biden administration , along with many others , believes that it ' s up to Israel to come up with a plan to protect civilians in Rafah during any operation . It ' s a big challenge given the number of civilians there , so the key is to have a solid plan in place . As of now , we haven ' t seen such a plan from Israel , so it ' s all theoretical at this point . We need to see a plan that ensures the safety of civilians before any further decisions can be made . Thank you .
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