Nadia Charbit, France 24:
For more for an Israeli response we can cross to our guest.
Michael Oren is a deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s office and the former
Israeli ambassador to the United States. Thank you very much for being with us
on France 24. Looking first at that huge
death toll, did yesterday’s events get out of hand?
Michael Oren:
Not at all. Good to be with you and thank you. Not at all. Hamas drove civilians towards Israel’s border
in the attempt to break that border in an attempt to kill Israelis and Israeli soldiers
defended themselves, defended our citizens as they have
to. Hamas bears full responsibility for this. Among those demonstrators were
terrorists. Hamas has now announced that 5 of those killed yesterday were
active terrorists in the organization, they planted bombs along the border,
using human shields. Hamas, an organization that is recognized by Europe as a terrorist
organization bears full responsibility.
Nadia Charbit:
As you said Hamas has confirmed 5 of those killed were militants.
That still leaves at least 11 civilians and there are no Israeli casualties.
Was live fire really a proportionate response to the protest?
Michael Oren:
Indeed, every single person killed yesterday was involved in
active hostility against our troops in the attempt to break to the border and
kill Israelis . The head of Hamas, just recently in the last hour announced,
Mr. Sinwar announced that the goal of the demonstration was to enable the people
of Gaza “ to eat the livers of Israelis”, and I am quoting:“eat the livers of Israelis”
. This was a terrorist action disguised as a civilian protest, and I can’t think
of anything more cynical than using these Gazans as human shields in order to
attack Israelis.
Nadia Charbit:
Now this protest is due to last 6 weeks. Will the military
review its response to avoid the repeat of the bloodshed we saw yesterday?
Michael Oren:
Our review has already been conducted and the conclusion is
as it stands now is to beef up our defenses along our borders. The incidents of yesterday were entirely
justified, entirely necessary, and if Hamas keeps on using the shields of human
beings of civilians attack our border to
try to break through and kill our civilians, the army will take all measures
necessary to defend us.
Nadia Charbit:
Will the military only respond on the border on the day to
day basis?
Michael Oren:
It will take all necessary measures. We are not out to hurt
Gaza civilians. In my job in government I am in charge of trying to improve the
humanitarian conditions in Gaza and I must tell you Hamas does everything
possible to starve its own population and even the Palestinian Authority in the
West Bank under Mahmud Abas has cut off all subsidies, all medical help to
Gaza, and everyone is trying to use these poor people to make a point. Israel
has no interest in increasing casualties there but Israel will do everything possible
and necessary to defend our citizens.
Nadia Charbit:
It sounds as if you are approving the idea of collective a
punishment on all Gazans. Is there no lee way to alleviate the humanitarian
situation?
Michael Oren:
Well, I am in touch with a number of European governments
about relieving that humanitarian situation. It is very difficult. With Hamas refusing to allow aid trucks to go
into Gaza so that Hamas can claim to the world that it is suffering . With the Palestinian
Authority cutting off all aid, cutting off subsidies, cutting of salaries for
50000 workers in Gaza. Now, Israel
cannot affect that. It cannot. We have the only open border into Gaza. The
Egyptian border crossings are all closed. We are ready to bring through 1200
trucks a day in food and aid. Hamas has reduced it to 400. Hamas has reduced it
to 400, not Israel. So this is not collective punishment by Israel. What
happened yesterday was our legitimate means to defend ourselves and we will
continue doing that. But we also stand ready to try to improve the humanitarian
situation in Gaza. But frankly, it is in the hands of Hamas and the Palestinian
Authority.
Nadia Charbit:
Michael Oren, thank
you very much for having spoken to us.
5:35 to 9:44 into the video
