(18 Oct 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Brussels, Belgium – 18 October 2024
1. Wide of US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin arriving at press conference
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Lloyd Austin, US Secretary of Defence: ++AUDIO AS INCOMING++
"As you all know, Israel yesterday killed (Yahya) Sinwar, the leader of Hamas. That’s a major achievement and it opens a major opportunity for progress. Sinwar was the architect of the October 7th terrorist assault on Israel. His plot left 1,200 people dead, including civilians from more than 30 other countries, and that includes the United States. He was responsible for the deaths of many Americans over the years, including more than 40 Americans murdered on October 7th and four murdered American hostages. Sinwar devoted his life to wrecking the chances of peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians. He’s finally been brought to justice, and that removes a huge obstacle. Our top priority is the 101 hostages still kidnaped in Gaza, including our own American hostages. They have been through hell and so have their families. But the hostages should not have to suffer one more hour in captivity. Those who are holding hostages should release them immediately. Sinwar’s death also provides an extraordinary opportunity to achieve a lasting ceasefire, to end this awful war and to rush humanitarian aid into Gaza."
3. Mid of Austin
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Lloyd Austin, US Secretary of Defence:
"Again, the victory plan is (Ukrainian) President (Volodymyr) Zelensky’s plan, and we’re going to do everything that we can and provide security assistance to support the President as he tries to accomplish his objectives. But what we all want to make sure that we continue to do is to link military objectives to strategic objectives and, you know, that dialogue continues. And, you know, I just met with (Ukrainian Defence) minister (Rustem) Umerov today, we talked through a number of those things. Again, our focus is going to continue to be on doing everything that we can to support the victory plan – to support President Zelenskyy. It is not my position to evaluate publicly his plan. We have been supporting him by providing security assistance in a major way for over two and a half years, we are going to continue to do that."
5. Austin leaving
STORYLINE:
US Defence Secretary, Lloyd Austin, said on Friday the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar opened a "major opportunity for progress" in attempts to achieve a cease-fire in Gaza.
Speaking to media at a press briefing in Brussels where Austin was attending a NATO summit, he said Sinwar "devoted his life to wrecking the chances of peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians".
"He’s finally been brought to justice, and that removes a huge obstacle," he added.
Austin said the "top priority" for the US was the release of the remaining hostages who are still believed to be in Gaza.
"The hostages should not have to suffer one more hour in captivity. Those who are holding hostages should release them immediately," he said.
The defence secretary also touched on the war in Ukraine and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s ‘victory plan’.
"The victory plan is President Zelensky’s plan, and we’re going to do everything that we can and provide security assistance to support the President as he tries to accomplish his objectives", said Austin.
"It is not my position to evaluate publicly his plan. We have been supporting him by providing security assistance in a major way for over two and a half years, we are going to continue to do that", he added.
AP video shot by: Ahmad Seir
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