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State Department refers journalists’ deaths in Gaza to Israeli authorities, says investigations expected
Summary
Spokesperson Tammy Bruce said the U.S. has referred questions about the killing of journalists in Gaza to Israel, citing Israeli statements that they had evidence on one slain journalist’s membership in Hamas; she said the U.S. expects investigations and did not detail internal processes.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said from the briefing room that the United States has urged investigations into the deaths of journalists in Gaza and referred reporters to Israeli authorities for the evidence Israel has cited regarding individual cases.
Bruce told reporters that Israel had released evidence concerning one journalist, Anas Al Sharif, and that the Israeli authorities are the ones to contact for information on that case. She said the United States “expects investigations,” but she declined to discuss internal U.S. processes or to provide other investigative details from the podium.
Reporters pressed Bruce on the scale of journalist casualties and on claims that U.S.-supplied weapons may have been used. The briefing included references to several hundred journalists killed overall in the conflict; Bruce criticized Hamas and described the group as using civilian infrastructure in ways that complicate combat operations. When asked whether there had been an internal U.S. review to determine whether actions complied with the laws of war, Bruce said she would not discuss operational or internal investigative processes from the podium and reiterated that inquiries should be directed to Israeli authorities for information tied to specific incidents.
Bruce emphasized the State Department’s general concern about civilian losses and said U.S. officials will “follow up” on investigation results as they are produced. She also said that journalists and others reporting from conflict zones face grave risks and that the United States expects allied investigations in response to allegations of unlawful attacks.
