How much does NBC hate Israelis? Well, during Monday’s Today, the network actually decried the successful operation by the Israeli Defense Forces over the weekend to free four civilians who had been held hostage by Hamas terrorists since October 7. NBC was upset because the rescue emboldened the resolve of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to rescue his citizens and could hurt President Biden’s unilateral negotiations with the terrorists.
NBC senior White House correspondent Gabe Gutierrez quickly tried to wash Biden’s hands of the operation. Noting: “The Biden administration confirmed the U.S. did not participate militarily in the rescue operation but the U.S. provided intelligence in support of it.”
He then pivoted to the “concerns that Saturday's rescue may hurt efforts to reach a ceasefire and free the remaining hostages.”
According to Gutierrez, saving the lives of four hostages was a serious problem because it could hurt the Biden administration’s effort to negotiate with Hamas terrorists and emboldened the right-wing Netanyahu government to continue to eliminate the threat to Israeli civilians:
Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in the region today to try and secure a deal, but the rescue will likely make his efforts even more difficult and that's why the administration may negotiate directly with Hamas to release the remaining American hostages if the current proposal fails, according to U.S. officials.
They say this latest rescue only strengthened Netanyahu's determination to keep pushing for military operations in Gaza instead of pursuing a ceasefire. One senior administration official calling this a very real option, citing the fact that Hamas could have an incentive to deal directly with the Americans because it would strain relations between the U.S. and Israel and possibly put even more pressure on Netanyahu.
In their coverage of the operation itself, NBC noted the happy reunions but correspondent Raf Sanchez also lamented the “searing grief inside Gaza.”
He parroted the unverifiable claims from the Gaza Ministry of Health that some “270” civilians “were killed by Israeli fire during the raid, including around 60 children.” Instead of admitting the fact Hamas is known to use human shields, he framed it as a claim made by Israel: “Israel says that Hamas deliberately holds the hostages in crowded civilian areas.”
There was also no mention of the fact that hostages were found in the home of a Gaza-based journalist for Al Jazeera, Abdallah Aljamal who was killed in the raid.
The transcript is below. Click "expand" to read:
NBC’s Today
June 10, 2024
7:06:29 a.m. EasternHODA KOTB: Let's bring in NBC's senior White House correspondent Gabe Gutierrez. Gabe, tell us what we know about the U.S.'s involvement in this particular rescue and tell us why the White House believes it might be feasible to negotiate directly with Hamas.
GABE GUTIERREZ: Hey there, Hoda. Good morning. The Biden administration confirmed the U.S. did not participate militarily in the rescue operation but the U.S. provided intelligence in support of it, according to a U.S. Official with knowledge of the matter.
Still, there are concerns that Saturday's rescue may hurt efforts to reach a ceasefire and free the remaining hostages, including the eight Americans, three of which are believed to have been killed. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in the region today to try and secure a deal, but the rescue will likely make his efforts even more difficult and that's why the administration may negotiate directly with Hamas to release the remaining American hostages if the current proposal fails, according to U.S. officials.
They say this latest rescue only strengthened Netanyahu's determination to keep pushing for military operations in Gaza instead of pursuing a ceasefire. One senior administration official calling this a very real option, citing the fact that Hamas could have an incentive to deal directly with the Americans because it would strain relations between the U.S. and Israel and possibly put even more pressure on Netanyahu.
Another reason, it might even pressure the Prime Minister to agree to a version of the current ceasefire deal, but all of it could be a complicated path to take, considering the potential backlash. The White House declined to comment. Hoda.
KOTB: All right. Gutierrez for us there at the White House. Gabe, thank you.
(…)
8:03:24 a.m. Eastern
RAF SANCHEZ: But while there are celebrations here in Israel, there is searing grief inside of Gaza. The Health Ministry says around 270 people were killed by Israeli fire during the raid, including around 60 children. Israel says that Hamas deliberately holds the hostages in crowded civilian areas.
(…)
