No One’s Questioned Hamas’s Fatality Figures

Amanpour & Co. on PBS11/15/231:33:00 p.m. (ET) 

AMANPOUR: Netanyahu has to date rebuffed any calls to alter course. Right here now’s the prime minister’s senior adviser, Mark Regev. Welcome again to this system. You are becoming a member of us from Tel Aviv. Can I first begin by asking you about these actually massive marches which might be occurring and what each your authorities and President Biden has mentioned? Inform us extra about these potential offers when a launch might occur.

MARK REGEV, SENIOR ADVISER TO ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: If we’re nearer to a hostage launch, and I am undecided we’re, but when we’re nearer, it is as a result of Hamas is below superb stress.

As you realize, our forces at the moment are in the course of Gaza Metropolis, the epicenter of Hamas’s army machine. They’re taking up the Hamas terrorists in hand-to-hand fight. The — we’re getting shut and nearer to the Hamas management. They’re feeling the ache. They could now, I hope, transfer on releasing hostages. However we now have to attend and see.

AMANPOUR: OK. You mentioned, I am undecided we’re. Each your authorities, I imagine, put out some type of alert or assertion that we acquired. And President Biden says, you realize, they imagine it will occur quickly. They’re making progress. You are not believing that.

REGEV: It isn’t finished till it is finished.

AMANPOUR: Proper.

REGEV: No, we might be extra joyful than anybody to see hostages launched. However we all know who we’re coping with. We’re coping with Hamas, a brutal terrorist group.

AMANPOUR: Proper, proper.

REGEV: Of the 239 folks being held, 32 kids, of them infants and infants. These individuals are not going to do the fitting factor. They are not going to all of a sudden develop into humanitarians. They are going to solely launch hostages in the event that they’re below superb stress. They’re below large stress from us in the meanwhile. Perhaps that’s going to expedite a launch. I hope so.

AMANPOUR: And in addition, you realize as a result of you might have exchanged with Hamas. So, I assume I am simply asking you as someone who is aware of, however you aren’t going there. So, what do you make and what does the prime minister make of the stress now by Israeli folks to truly deliver them residence?

We have seen polls displaying that the majority Israelis now assume that ought to be a major object of the army operation and also you’re seeing precise marches, they usually have been very pointed indignant, indignant folks, together with, you realize, the granddaughter of the previous prime minister, Shimon Peres, and plenty of others who’re very upset that the federal government does not appear to be doing as a lot so far as they know — so far as they’ll see to deliver their cherished one residence.

REGEV: So, I can let you know and all of the folks watching that bringing the hostages house is a major objective in our army operation. As soon as once more, the best way to do this — I imply, I would wish to let you know that Hamas turned, you realize, humanitarians, however they are not. They’re powerful brutal terrorists. We noticed what they’re able to after they butchered our folks on October seventh. We see what they’re doing in Gaza, the best way they’re sacrificing Palestinian lives proper and middle for his or her loopy goals. These folks will solely launch hostages on account of stress. That stress is being utilized and we imagine, we all know that is one of the simplest ways to facilitate the discharge of the hostages. What different different is there? To smile at them?

AMANPOUR: No, no, Mark. We’re not speaking about smiling. These are actually sensible questions on issues that you have finished earlier than and issues that your individuals are asking you. No one thinks Hamas is humanitarian. However we do know that Israel has gone into offers. In actual fact, 1,000 plus Palestinians launched for one Israeli soldier.

So, that is the place this query is coming from, together with making an attempt to get you to substantiate what the president of america says. However let’s transfer on, since you’re speaking concerning the stress. You heard, as a result of I put a “mash up” of a few of your staunchest pals and allies. President Biden, I hope there’s going to be much less intrusive exercise, these have been his phrases, across the hospital. President Macron, de facto civilians are being killed. This isn’t comporting with worldwide legislation. Prime Minister Sunak, the identical, you might have the fitting to self-defense, however you additionally should observe worldwide legislation. What do you make of these feedback and people emotions now amongst your most staunch allies?

REGEV: So, I imply, I might solely embrace what’s been mentioned. Israel is conducting itself within the framework of worldwide legislation, and we’re appearing to defend ourself in a proportional means. And in addition, in a means that’s — differentiates between combatants, the Hamas terrorists who’re out to kill, and noncombatants, the civilian inhabitants, who we do not need to harm.

And really, now that we have our floor troops on the bottom, it is my understanding that the variety of civilian casualties has not gone up, it is taking place. That is an excellent factor. Having floor forces, boots on the bottom permits us to be possibly extra surgical than airstrikes, that is an excellent factor. And we’re utilizing these forces to hit Hamas and hit Hamas laborious.

But it surely needs to be understood, initially, the numbers popping out of Gaza regarding casualties are offered by Hamas. There isn’t any different impartial verification for these numbers. And so, we now have to presume they’re exaggerated. And secondly, they offer you no differentiation between of the individuals who have been fatalities, whether or not they have been Hamas terrorists, and it is good that they have been killed in the event that they have been, and between civilians caught up within the crossfire. And nobody may give you at CNN knowledge that’s extra exact.

AMANPOUR: Sure. However, Mark –

REGEV: And so, we’re all — the numbers that individuals are speaking about of the Hamas numbers.

AMANPOUR: Mark, regardless of the numbers are, and in historical past, no person’s questioned these numbers, in all of the earlier — and the Hamas was all the time in cost, all of the earlier operations, no person questioned their numbers. And we now have seen half of those folks or — effectively, as much as half, practically, 4 plus thousand are kids, all of the authorities are saying that.

REGEV: That is Hamas’s numbers although.

AMANPOUR: Let’s not — please —

REGEV: That is Hamas’s numbers.

AMANPOUR: Sure. However —

REGEV: Once you say 4,000 kids, that is what Hamas says.

AMANPOUR: Effectively, we have seen the images, OK. And we did this final week collectively. We have seen the images, and it’s inflicting large unrest and disquiet amongst your closest pals, to not point out in Gaza and amongst the Palestinians and the Arab Avenue. However what I need to ask you is that this, your protection minister has mentioned, and I am actually that you just make a distinction now, you say, presumably, you notice that it was means an excessive amount of by air. And now, you say it is extra contained and extra directed on the bottom. Your protection minister has mentioned

that the primary goal, Yahya Sinwar, the pinnacle of Hamas, army and politically in Gaza, is hiding in his bunker.

If that is the case, have you learnt the place he’s? Why do not you go straight after him?

REGEV: So, initially, I am unable to sadly share with you any intelligence that I may need. All I can say is it is clear that the Hamas management whether or not in Gaza or exterior Gaza is a goal. Anybody who was concerned in orchestrating in commanding, in facilitating the October 7thmassacre of our folks is a reputable goal in our eyes, simply as Osama bin Laden won’t have himself flown an airline into the World Commerce Heart, however he was the person accountable.

So, after all, the Hamas management answerable for the butchering of our folks, they are going to be reached and punished.

AMANPOUR: Sure. So, I assume my query was, if apparently your protection minister is aware of the place he’s, why is not that the goal versus a a lot wider goal? And a concurrent query is, you retain saying that there’s a Hamas bunker, command middle tunnels beneath these hospitals. So, it is honest to ask, primarily based on what intelligence? Are you able to inform us why and the way you realize that?

REGEV: To begin with, we all know that. And to talk frankly, I feel most people of Gaza Metropolis realize it too. It is — if it is a secret, it is a secret that everybody kind of is aware of. The People have confirmed, their intelligence. The European Union got here out and mentioned they know for a undeniable fact that Hamas makes use of the civilian inhabitants as a human defend.

And really, the Rantisi Hospital, the one which our forces reached yesterday, we confirmed to CNN and different journalists the underground tunnel community adjoining to the hospital. So, I do not assume there’s any doubt about this anymore, except one desires to imagine Hamas is propaganda.

AMANPOUR: OK. So, hear, Mark, I noticed that piece. I noticed the — I noticed what you confirmed the journalists. And from what we noticed, there have been no Hamas folks in there then, then, and there have been no large stockpiles of weapons then. So, it raises the query, the place are these folks? And due to this fact, why is the hospital nonetheless a goal? That is truthfully what I am making an attempt to grasp.

REGEV: So, initially, the hospital isn’t a goal, proper? It is the Hamas terror subterranean community of tunnels and of bunkers and of arms depots and of launching websites for his or her missiles, their command and management, that’s below the Shifa Hospital, but it surely’s additionally below the opposite hospitals, too, as we noticed at Rantisi.

However we now have to destroy that army machine of Hamas and we’re destroying it now. Our troopers are there on the bottom and Hamas is feeling the warmth.

And we are going to attain the Hamas management and we are going to take them out.

AMANPOUR: So, can I simply ask you a sequence of questions concerning the prime minister? So, you have seen all of the reporting they usually’re very, excellent journalists who’ve finished plenty of reporting, Israeli journalists, People and others. And so they have reported a sequence of no matter you would possibly say, I will simply say errors, by the federal government in coping with Hamas over time.

Most significantly I need to ask you, and if you do not know, I would actually love you to get the reply for me, the report that the army intelligence chief, one in every of them very important personage, went to the prime minister, went to the Knesset with categorised info speaking about how he believed and the way intelligence believed that the, you realize, the uproar in your nation over the try to overturn the judicial scenario was weakening the picture, weakening, you realize, the army and the intelligence within the eyes of the enemy. And apparently, the prime minister refused to see them.

Then individually, Common Halevi, if that is how I pronounce his identify, went to see the prime minister in July with an analogous set of considerations. And the prime minister refused to see him. Are you able to inform me whether or not that is true? And in that case, why?

REGEV: So, initially, all these questions shall be handled.

AMANPOUR: No, Mark, that is —

REGEV: However you need to know — no. However no, I am answering you, Christiane. Christiane, it needs to be mentioned that Israel within the first months of this 12 months had a really polarized politics and there have been demonstrations towards the prime minister and their demonstrations for the prime minister and a few folks supported the judicial reform and others have been against it. And we had a really, very contentious political debate on this nation.

However what we noticed on October seventh, as was reported on CNN, is that Hamas did not ask Israelis after they killed us, after they butchered us, are we left-wingers or are we right-wingers? Will we like Netanyahu or can we not like Netanyahu? Are we secular or spiritual? They do not care. They killed Israelis as a result of they’re Israelis, as a result of there are Jews.

There was a report on CNN simply earlier than we received on this broadcast a few peace activist, a feminist, a lady who was butchered by Hamas on the day of the assault And I feel this has been a wakeup name for Israelis, as a result of as a lot as we on this nation wish to debate politics, we passionately argue our positions.

However what’s the fact, Christiane? That the Hamas killers do not care about our arguments. They imagine this nation has no proper to exist, not in any borders. They oppose any peace. They oppose any negotiated answer. And so they imagine each Israeli, irregardless of his political or her political opinions, is a reputable goal for terrorism.

AMANPOUR: OK.

REGEV: And that that has introduced us collectively. And as you realize —

AMANPOUR: Sure.

REGEV: — events that have been within the opposition have joined the federal government. We have now received a nationwide unity authorities. And when this struggle is received, there will be loads of time to debate who was answerable for what and to get again to politics as common.

However in the meanwhile, this nation is united as by no means earlier than in coping with a terrorist menace. We are going to defeat Hamas, we are going to finish its rule in Gaza, we are going to dismantle its army machine. It’s going to be good for the folks of Israel, it will be good for the Palestinians in Gaza too who deserve higher than this Hamas terror regime that is dominated them for 16 years and has solely introduced them ache, hardship and poverty.

AMANPOUR: That every one will be the case. The query although is, and I am speaking about Israelis asking about whether or not this authorities, an emergency authorities greater than a unity authorities, is the truth is able to being, as Prime Minister Netanyahu, your boss has known as himself, Mr. Safety for all these years.

Now, based on polls, and I am simply going to let you know which ballot I am speaking about, Channel 13 says like 76 p.c of Israelis assume he ought to, you realize, retire — or fairly resign now after the struggle. So, my query is, this was a extremely pointed query as a result of it is about safety and he refused to fulfill the safety. It does not matter concerning the — effectively, it does matter, the demonstrations. That is not what I used to be asking. Why did Mr. Safety refused to fulfill with the safety and intelligence chiefs who had worries about one thing that may occur?

REGEV: As soon as once more, all these questions will be addressed after the battle. And I would remind you, and you realize this higher than most, that after we’ve had safety mishaps or challenges previously, we now have recognized on this nation easy methods to examine ourselves. After the 1973 Yom Kippur Conflict debacle in the beginning the place we have been shocked, this nation had an investigation led by a crew of former army folks and Supreme Court docket justices. And folks paid penalties. It was the identical after the 2006 Lebanon struggle, there was an official Committee of Inquiry.

I am positive that when that is over, we are going to observe the identical sample. There shall be inquiries, there shall be investigations, questions shall be requested. All of the folks from the prime minister down who’re in positions of authority should reply these questions. That is the best way it is finished within the democracy.

AMANPOUR: I imply, I might ask, do you assume this prime minister will survive as others have not? You talked about after the Yom Kippur struggle. However what I need to lastly ask you is the — there’s a report that the American protection secretary, Lloyd Austin, spoke to Protection Minister Yoav Gallant and primarily, primarily, and I am paraphrasing, cool it on the northern border, nervous that over provocation or over exercise by Israel might spark one thing wider. Are you able to verify that?

REGEV: I can not verify it. And I can let you know what our coverage is within the north. Israel desires to have the ability to focus all our army efforts on Hamas within the south, on destroying the Hamas army machine and getting our hostages again. Within the north, we choose deterrence. We do not need to see an escalation within the north.

Sadly, as you realize, we won’t make sure that that is not Hezbollah’s curiosity in — on the nation. Perhaps Hezbollah feels it has to return to the help of its sister terrorist motion. And due to this fact, we now have to be ready.

And my message to Hezbollah, who could be watching us at this second, is that they need to be very, very cautious. As a result of if Hamas took us unexpectedly on October seventh, and we paid an enormous value in blood on October seventh for not being prepared, we at the moment are mobilized. Our eye is on the ball. And if Hezbollah decides to begin one thing severe, they’ll anticipate an awesome Israeli response. We are going to reply expeditiously and with drive to any escalation by Hezbollah.

AMANPOUR: I absolutely perceive that. I get what you are saying, simply that you just additionally, like all of us, watched Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah final week, who principally mentioned they did it. We did not do it. To me, it was like this was a Hamas downside. The query I used to be asking you is, is it — are you able to verify whether or not the protection minister of america warned Israel additionally to not be provocative and escalatory in your try to be deterrent on the northern border?

REGEV: No, I have been in conferences with my prime minister, I can guarantee you. Our coverage is victory within the south and deterrence within the north. However as soon as once more, we do not know what Hezbollah goes to do. You seek advice from Nasrallah’s speeches, however we’re watching not what he says, we’re watching what he does. And we all know that he shares that very same excessive theology, ideology, like Hamas.

He is a terrorist, not simply in Israel’s eyes, even the Arab League has declared Hezbollah a terrorist group. He is an Iranian proxy. He is, as I mentioned earlier than, like the dual sister of Hamas in Gaza. And we’re watching the ball carefully. We might be irresponsible to do in any other case.

AMANPOUR: Mark Regev, thanks very a lot for being with us tonight.