Tapper presses Sullivan on Israel cutting off food, water to Gaza

CNN’s Jake Tapper on Sunday pressed national security adviser Jake Sullivan on why Israel cut off food, water and electricity to Gaza as the death toll on both sides continues to rise.

“More than 700 children have been reportedly killed in Gaza. And, obviously, electricity, food, water supplies have been cut off by Israel to the totality of Gaza. Obviously the blockade is not just by Israel, it’s by Egypt too,” he said to Sullivan.

Tapper then played a video of Secretary of State Antony Blinken from last year, where he blasted Russian President Vladimir Putin for targeting Ukrainian infrastructure, including water, food and electricity. Tapper asked Sullivan “what the difference” is in Israel cutting off supplies to Gaza.

“They deserve as I said before access to water and medicine and food. And we are working actively to ensure that that happens,” Sullivan said. “And I can tell you this morning, Jake, that I have been in touch with my Israeli counterparts just within the last hour, who report to me that they have in fact turned the water pipe back on in southern Gaza.”

“The United States is going to continue working with Israel with the UN, with Egypt, with Jordan and with a lot of the groups on the ground to make sure that innocent Palestinians get access to those basic necessities and are protected from bombardment because they deserve that right, the right to those necessities and the right to safety and security — every bit as much as Ukrainian civilians do or civilians anywhere do,” he continued.

Tapper further pressed Sullivan on why the U.S. is not telling Israel to let power run to hospitals in Gaza.

“Our position is that hospitals should be able to function hospitals should not be targeted. People should be able to get access to life saving medical care. We don’t qualify these statements,” Sullivan responded.