CNN’s Jake Tapper confronted National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan over reported brutalities against civilians in Gaza versus those in Ukraine during a Sunday segment of “State of the Union.”
Tapper pointed to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken lamenting Russian President Vladimir Putin in November 2022 for cutting off heat, electricity and water supplies to Ukrainians. Civilians living in the Gaza Strip have reportedly lost access to these needs after Israel ordered a “complete siege” on the Palestinian enclave in response to the surprise Oct. 7 terror attack by Hamas.
“Now look, Israel is not Russia, Gaza is not Ukraine, it’s a different situation. But cutting off supplies, cutting off heat, cutting off water to civilians, what’s the difference?” Tapper asked Sullivan.
“Well first, thank you for saying that Israel is not Russia because Israel is not Russia,” Sullivan began. “Secondly—”
“But, civilians are civilians, Jake. Civilians are civilians,” Tapper interjected.
Sullivan claimed Israelis reportedly informed him that they had returned water access to civilians in southern Gaza. Sullivan went on to say the United States is committed to working with Israel, the United Nations and other allies to protect civilians in Gaza.
“Yes, absolutely they are. They deserve access to water and medicine and food and we are working actively to make sure that that happens and I can tell you this morning, Jake, that I have been in touch with my Israeli counterparts just within the last hour who report to me that they have in fact turned the water back on in southern Gaza,” Sullivan said.
“That has been the subject for discussion over the course of the last few days,” Sullivan continued. “The United States is gonna continue working with Israel, with the U.N., with Egypt, with Jordan and a lot of the groups on the ground to make sure that innocent Palestinians get access to those basic necessities and are protected from bombardment because they deserve that right. The right to those necessities and the right to safety and security every bit as much as Ukrainians, civilians do, or civilians anywhere do.”
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