Interview With Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX);

Interview

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

"To be honest with you, Jim, not enough. I don't think that her release of hostages has been prioritized the way that it should, and to hear this news that a three-year-old is one of the hostages, it is heart wrenching, I think, for the world to hear, but it speaks to why the release of hostages and the negotiation for the release of hostages has to be a priority. And that's part of the reason that I've called repeatedly for a ceasefire, because I believe that the release of hostages becomes more likely with that ceasefire.

You know, the world condemned Hamas. I condemned Hamas for the events, the massacre of October 7th, and I also have expressed concern and have criticized Prime Minister Netanyahu and the IDF for how they are executing this war.

The civilian refugee shelters that were hit, for example, there have now been multiple strikes on hospitals. I know that there was a dispute over the first one, but since then, more hospitals with civilians, with children have been struck.

And so the best thing, I believe, for both sides would be a ceasefire now and the ability to talk. I doubt that both sides are going to talk together, I understand that. But the Qataris, for example, were mediating for hostages -- over hostages. Unfortunately, there have only been about five, as far as I can see that had been released out of hundreds. So that has to be a priority.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

I don't think that it's long enough. I don't think that it

goes far enough. I know that Israelis are rightfully concerned about their own security. But remember, as damaging, as horrific as the attack against Israel was on October 7th, Hamas still in that region is not the biggest existential threat, long-term threat to Israel. Hamas does not have the sophisticated weaponry, for example, that others like Iran, or Hezbollah or others have.

And so the biggest threat to Israel's long term survival is the escalation of that war into a regional war, where they're dealing with multiple adversaries at once with heavier or sophisticated weaponry.

And so that's why I think it's not only in the interest of Palestinians who are in Gaza, but also to Israelis to take on a ceasefire now to negotiate for hostages. And of course, to hold Hamas accountable, Hamas should be held accountable. What they did was horrific.

They committed war crimes in what they did on October 7th. We've heard the very gruesome details and read about the very gruesome details about what happened.

But again, you know, I (AUDIO ISSUES) think this past week, that I have real concerns about Prime Minister Netanyahu's leadership, how he is conducting this war. I don't believe that he can protect Israelis. I don't believe that he is prioritizing the release of hostages.

I don't think that he's respecting humanitarian rule of law in this war or Palestinian rights in the West Bank, and I lack confidence that this war won't escalate, which would not only be bad, I believe, for both Palestinians and Israelis, but also means that the United States would likely get roped in even deeper.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

If Donald Trump were able to successfully win the presidency again and be inaugurated as president, the United States would be on the doorstep of fascism. If you don't believe that and just listen to what he said over the last few days, echoing Hitler's words, speaking about his political opponents as vermin in the past, recent past talking about immigrants as spoiling the bloodline of America.

This is somebody who has described a plan for authoritarianism, and for fascism. This is a dangerous man who has no positive plan for the country, who hopes to win by sowing fear and division and creating chaos, rather than uplifting Americans and strengthening the United States of America as a nation.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

I hope not. That would be bad for the country, it would be bad for Americans, it would hurt our economy. And so I hope that the Republican speaker and the House of Representatives and the president, and the Senate, that all of us can work together to avoid that.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Well, we're going to have a chance to talk about it. We go back tomorrow and so we'll have our meetings early in the week and look it over. You know, all of us are committed to a working functioning government. We understand that a government shutdown hurts the American people, and so we're going to do what we can to extend a hand to Republicans and work with them.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Good to be with you.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source