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Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: US ISRAEL HAMAS
HEADLINE: Gaza’s Shifa Hospital Is Focus of International Concern
TEASER: Top US officials say the Israeli military operation in Gaza’s largest hospital is still ongoing
PUBLISHED AT: 11/16/23,
BYLINE: Cindy Saine
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: State Department
VIDEOGRAPHER:
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Reifenrath, Jepsen (bal)
VIDEO SOURCE (S): Saine Zoom interview, AFP, AP, Reuters
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO __
TRT:
VID APPROVED BY:
TYPE:
EDITOR NOTES: ))
((INTRO))
[[U.S. President Joe Biden has come under increasing pressure to rein in Israel's military campaign against Hamas, with concern mounting about the high number of Palestinian civilians killed. Meanwhile, unverified videos suggest that Israeli forces are carrying out operations at Shifa Hospital in Gaza. VOA's Senior Diplomatic Correspondent Cindy Saine reports from the State Department.]]
((Video: AP Video ID: 4463901 “Gaza War Shifa Hospital: 1. Men pushing beds with patients through corridor of Shifa Hospital amid smoke
2. Men searching through corridors, using phone torches amid smoke ++PART MUTE++
3. Various of men and health workers moving through hospital building amid smoke, covering mouths and coughing))
(NARRATOR))
The Shifa Hospital, Gaza’s largest, has become a focal point of the Israel-Hamas war. The Hamas-run Ministry of Health released video it says shows patients being moved inside smoke-filled corridors as Israeli forces raid the large hospital compound, one building at a time.
((Video: AP Video ID: 4463877: 3. Various of Conricus in the hallways of Shifa hospital, gesturing, pointing at weapons the IDF says were found in the hospital))
The Israeli army released video that it says shows Hamas weapons and military equipment it found in the hospital. Hamas denies it is using the medical center for military purposes.
((Video: AP Video ID: 446392-soundbite 2, Biden set-up B-roll and SOT))
VOA cannot independently verify either video.
President Joe Biden said that the first war crime committed by Hamas was stationing its weapons and fighters in, under and around hospitals.
((President Joe Biden))
“Israel did not go in with large number of troops, did not raid, did not rush everything down. They've gone in, and they've gone in with their soldiers carrying weapons, their guns. They were told … told, let me be precise. We've discussed the need for them to be incredibly careful.”
((Video: AP Video ID: 4463939: various of smoke rising over Gaza, upsound shelling 2. Various of flares in early morning sky over Gaza Strip ++NIGHT SHOTS++ 3. Pan of hazy Gaza skyline with destroyed buildings))
((NARRATOR))
The Health Ministry says more than 11,400 Palestinians have been killed since the beginning of the war. The conflict was triggered by the October 7th massacre by Hamas, which Israel says left 1,200 dead. Asked when the war would end, Biden had this to say.
((Video: AP Video ID: 446392-soundbite 2, Biden set-up B-roll and SOT))
((President Joe Biden))
"With regard to when is this going to stop, I think it's going to stop when Hamas no longer maintains the capacity to murder and abuse and just do horrific things to the Israelis."
((Video: MRT State Miller B-roll and SOT: https://app.frame.io/projects/107d8a33-963a-48f0-9001-585725df7d34/917155d3-8c76-499b-ac39-eb6e6232f73f))
(NARRATOR))
At the State Department, a reporter asked spokesperson Matthew Miller why the president is not calling for a cease-fire, saying polls show many Americans support it.
((Matthew Miller, State Department Spokesperson))
"We don't make our decisions based on polls. The president and the secretary have come to the conclusion that a cease-fire right now would only benefit Hamas."
((Video: autumn exteriors of the US Capitol))
(NARRATOR))
One expert told VOA that increased U.S. military support for Israel has broad, bipartisan support among members of the U.S. Congress. And she said the U.S. could use its leverage over Israel to reduce the number of Palestinian civilians killed as Israel targets leaders of Hamas, which the U.S. has designated a terrorist organization.
[[Radio Intro: Elizabeth Shackelford is with the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. She spoke to VOA via Zoom.]]
((Video:
https://app.frame.io/player/d6110f80-2ba8-46c8-88a5-456a01a0e9bd: Elizabeth Shackelford SOT TC: 9:15))
((Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Council on Global Affairs)) ((Zoom))
“For example, one of the things that we've heard over and over again, is that U.S. officials are recommending that Israel use smaller bombs, smaller bombs that have a smaller impact on collateral damage, collateral damage, is civilians, include civilians.”
((Video: AP Video ID: 4464057: 1. Various of Palestinians , including children and elderly, queuing with luggage after being displaced south, carrying ID cards UPSOUND by Israeli solider (Arabic): "Move back, I want an organised queue"
2. Various of Israeli soldiers and tanks
((NARRATOR))
Israel ordered Palestinians to leave four towns in southern Gaza on Thursday, raising concerns of a possible expansion of the war into areas that Palestinians from the north had fled to for safety in recent weeks.
Cindy Saine, VOA News, the State Department
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateNovember 16, 2023 20:44 EST
BylineCindy Saine
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
