‘There Is No Humanitarian Crisis’: Israeli Ambassador Gets in Heated Clash Over Gaza Bombing In Sky News Interview

Israeli UK ambassador Tzipi Hotovely denied that there was a “humanitarian crisis” in Gaza during a heated interview with Sky News journalist Kay Burley on Monday morning.

Burley initiated the discussion by asking about the situation in Gaza and the mounting “humanitarian crisis” there, where an ongoing Israeli siege has left millions of Palestinians with diminishing supplies of fuel, water and food. United Nations senior official Philippe Lazzarini said on Saturday that since Israel cut off utilities water availability “has become a matter of life and death.”

However, Hotovely contested that framing: “There is no humanitarian crisis because there is no Israel in charge of the safety of the Israelis. Hamas is in charge of the safety of the Palestinians.”

Burley, however, almost taken back, persisted with her line of questioning: “We’ve been showing pictures this morning that would illustrate that there is a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.”

Hotovely redirected the conversation by posing a poignant question to Burley about her own family: “Can I ask you something? Are you a mother.”

Burley confirmed she was.

With that the ambassador continued: “What would you think if your children would have been executed in front of your eyes? Would you expect your government to think about those Nazis committing those crimes and to say…” Burley attempted but failed to interject.

Hotovely emphasised her point, stating, “First of all, we need to protect the enemy and then to protect my children? Your children come as a priority to your Prime Minister.”

Burley repeated that Sky News had “been showing images this morning that illustrate that there is a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.”

Hotovely immediately responded: “So blame Hamas and ask Hamas why they started those atrocities…”

Burley repeated her question: “So you acknowledge that there is a humanitarian crisis?” Hotovely clarified, “I’m saying there is no, Israel is working…”

Burley inquired further: “So what do you think is happening?”

“What is happening?” the ambassador repeated back. “There is a war in Gaza, a war that Hamas started by committing a horrible massacre on innocent Israelis.”