National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan refused to say whether the United States was satisfied with the Israeli hostage rescue mission
In an interview with host Dana Bash on CNN’s State of the Union programme that aired Sunday morning, Sullivan declined to say whether the US was pleased with Israel’s hostage rescue mission that killed more than 200 people.
He stated: “Innocent people were tragically killed in this operation. The exact number, we don’t know, but innocent people were killed and that is heartbreaking. That is tragic.”
The US did not confirm Hamas claims that other Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip had died during the mission, but noted the possibility of such a situation. He highlighted: “With all of these military operations, hostages have been killed over the last eight months.”
In addition, Sullivan said the US offered assistance in rescuing four Israeli hostages over the weekend, but he did not specify what kind of assistance was provided. According to him, the US “has been providing support to Israel for several months in its efforts to help identify the locations of hostages in Gaza and to support efforts to try to secure their rescue or recovery,” but he did not specify what kind of assistance was provided. He added that Washington “did not participate militarily in this operation.”
The Israeli military on Saturday rescued four hostages in a special operation in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the centre of the Gaza Strip, which Gaza authorities say killed 274 people and injured nearly 700. Israel launched an offensive on the Gaza Strip following a Hamas attack on 7 October. It has killed more than 36,700 Palestinians, most of them women and children, and injured more than 83,500.
Pope Francis calls for action to help victims
Pope Francis on Sunday called on the international community to act “urgently” using “all means” to help Gazans affected by the war. During the noon blessing on Sunday, he said that humanitarian aid must reach everyone “in need,” according to Anadolu Ajansı.
He remarked that Saturday marked the 10th anniversary of a peaceful prayer service he led in the Vatican gardens, which saw the presence of then Israeli Israeli president Shimon Peres and Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas. He said:
“This meeting showed that shaking hands is possible, and that to make peace, you need courage much more courage than to make war.”
Francis supported the ceasefire efforts in the Gaza Strip and expressed his desire for both sides to conclude a truce as soon as possible. He expressed hope for the immediate acceptance of peace proposals and the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza “for the sake of the Palestinians and Israelis.”
