Via Teleconference
11:50 A.M. EDT
MODERATOR: Hey, everyone. Thanks again for bearing with us this morning. Kirby has no toppers, so we'll go straight into your questions.
Our first question will go to Aamer with the AP.
Q Hey, thank you very much. Two quick news-of-the-day questions, and then I just had one also — a short one that's like things sort of emerging into next week.
But on the news of the day, does the President agree with Leader Schumer that Netanyahu has lost his way and that it's time to hold new elections in Israel?
And secondly, on the TikTok development, does the White House view this emerging Steve Mnuchin effort as a possible solution to the national security issues with the platform?
And then finally, there's this bipartisan group of senators that wrote a letter to leadership this week, and it's waving red flags on the Afghan SIV issue with the March 22nd government funding deadline. What is the administration doing to make sure this gets done? Thanks.
MR. KIRBY: Look, we know that Leader Schumer feels strongly about this. I'll certainly let him speak to it and to his comments.
We're going to stay focused on making sure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself while doing everything that they can to avoid civilian casualties. And of course, we're still focused — laser-focused on trying to get a temporary ceasefire in place so that we can get the hostages out and get more aid in. That's where our head is right now.
I don't have any information on the Mnuchin effort you're speaking to, Aamer. I don't have any context on that. We're still focused on continuing to work, providing some technical support and assistance to Congress as this bill, which just passed the House, moves on to the Senate. There's an ongoing legislative process for that. We obviously want to see the Senate take it up swiftly. And we're focused on making sure we're providing them the context and the information we believe is important so that this bill can actually do and address the national security concerns that we have with respect to TikTok.
But I'll tell you what I'll do, since I didn't have anything on yet for the Mnuchin effort you spoke to, but I will take that question, and we'll have the team take a look and see if we can get you something a little bit more cogent than what I just gave you.
And, look, on Afghan SIVs, I think, as you know, we project that all 7,000 remaining Afghan SIV numbers are going to be exhausted by August of this year, so the end of the summer, at the current rates that they're being issued. So that's why we requested from Congress an increase of 20,000 SIVs, which would provide a visa for all individuals with a demonstrated eligibility for the program. And so we're going to continue to urge Congress to move forward on that.
Even though our war in Afghanistan ended, our commitment to Afghans and our commitment to those who helped us in that war has not ended. And we absolutely feel fully committed, and morally so, to do everything we can to get those folks a pathway out of Afghanistan.
MODERATOR: Great. Thank you. Our next question will go to Steve with Reuters.
Q Hey, John. Welcome back. Since you mentioned the hostage deal, give us an update on where things stand with that. Are there any active negotiations going on right now? Getting any movement from Hamas on that front?
MR. KIRBY: Hey, Steve. I wish I had some tangible progress to speak to. I don't. But I can clearly state that discussions and conversations are ongoing. We are a part of those discussions and those conversations. And we're still hopeful that we will be able to get there. But I don't have an update for you.
Q And secondly, the U.S. is imposing sanctions on several individuals related to settlement activity in the West Bank. Why were these people specifically chosen for the sanctions?
MR. KIRBY: Yeah, these three individuals and two entities were sanctioned because they own or control — I'm sorry, sanctioned three individuals and two associated entities that are owned or controlled by those individuals. That's what this was about.
These individuals have engaged in repeated violence against Palestinians and, in some cases, Israelis too, in the West Bank. And as we made clear before, extremist settler violence that we've seen increase sharply since the attacks on the 7th of October threatens peace, security, and stability of the West Bank.
MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Karen with the Washington Post.
Q Hi. On the attack — the IDF attack on the UNRWA facility in Rafah yesterday, I wonder how concerned you are about Israel openly targeting either Hamas or police in Rafah at a U.N. facility that is key to resolving the aid issues that you've outlined in the south and whether you have any more information on this person who was targeted.
Separately, there's a report that the Israelis — that the United States is aware of plans that Israel has to relocate people in the south in order to proceed with their Rafah offensive. I know Jake said yesterday that the United States had not seen any plans. And I wonder if, in fact, you've seen anything.
And finally — sorry, I have one more. There was another report yesterday that the United States this year has held talks on two occasions, with Iran and Oman, over both the Houthi strikes and the nuclear situation, and I wonder if you could comment on that. Thank you.
MR. KIRBY: Thanks, Karen. Lots there.
So, on the strike at an UNRWA distribution facility, we're very concerned about that strike that apparently killed and wounded civilians. What I can tell you is that we are in touch with our Israeli counterparts. We're trying to gather some more information about exactly what happened.
