Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council John Kirby shot down accusations from a Palestinian journalist during a White House press conference on Tuesday that he was just echoing what Israel’s military says.
The remarks from Nadia Bilbassy, who was born and raised in Gaza and who now works for the Saudi-government controlled Al-Arabiya news channel, come after Hamas terrorists murdered 1,400 Israelis, injured 5,300+, and kidnapped more than 240 during the October 7 attack.
She claimed that Israel was “in violation of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Convention” and asked why the administration would not “embrace” those who want Israel to be publicly admonished by the U.S.
“With due respect, John, some people think that you repeat what the Israeli army spokesman [is] saying,” she claimed. “It’s exactly what they’re saying, you’re repeating here. So, how can you — why not — [the dissenting] voices, not just understanding them and ‘we have a channel because we’re a democracy.’ Why not — what’s wrong with them?”
“What’s wrong with standing here and say when Israel do something wrong because you’re the best friend, you have leverage on them, why not criticizing them?” she asked.
Kirby fired back, “Well, your question presupposes that we’ve made some determination that the law of armed conflict has been violated and I don’t think — we’re not at that point.”
Bilbassy asked if the U.S. disagreed with what the U.N. claimed was happening.
“I would just tell you that we’re not going to react in near real time to every event,” Kirby responded. “Israel has a right and responsibility to defend itself and we’re going to make sure they have the tools and capabilities to do that. Again, we’re one month after this, and we ought not forget what happened one month ago. 1,400 people slaughtered in their homes, at a music festival, and when Hamas decided to conduct operations, it was with the intent of killing people.”
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“You know, I heard this word ‘genocide’ tossed around,” he continued. “Hamas actually does have genocidal intentions against the people of Israel. They’d like to see it wiped off the map. They said so on purpose. So, that’s — that’s what’s at stake here, and we’re going to keep making sure that Israel has that ability to do that.”
WATCH:
WOW. John Kirby just completely dismantled the anti-Israel smears from WH reporter Nadia Bilbassy Charters of the Saudi-funded Alarabiya.
Al-Arabiya’s Nadia Bilbassy-Charters: “So why not embrace the dissent voices call for a balance between private and public message and… pic.twitter.com/FISSKjLeBB
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) November 7, 2023