National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan addressed questions regarding the recent mission in Gaza, where two hospitals reported at least 236 casualties during an Israeli operation to rescue hostages. The exact number of Palestinian civilian casualties is currently uncertain, with conflicting reports from the Israeli Defense Forces and the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. However, it is confirmed that innocent individuals lost their lives during the operation, which is deemed tragic and heartbreaking.
President Biden has acknowledged the dire situation faced by the Palestinian people due to the conflict, attributing much of the suffering to Hamas' tactics of using civilian areas for military purposes. The presence of hostages and military installations in densely populated regions has resulted in the loss of innocent lives, a situation that is deeply lamented by the United States and the global community.
