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OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
ABC correspondent Matt Gutman conducted a live report on Tuesday and in a matter of seconds, things took a horrifying turn.
During a segment on ABC’s “The View,” co-host Whoopi Goldberg gave updates on the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel. Not long after Gutman began recounting harrowing details from the ground, a police officer came up to him on camera and told him he had to leave after only a few minutes of his report.
Below is a transcript of the exchange, via Mediaite:
Gutman: It seems at this point that it’s extremely probable that Israel is going to mount some sort of incursion into Gaza. We’re hearing about 360,000 reservists called up in three days. That is a tremendous number at this point. Never have so many been called up so quickly. The amount of anger in Israel is monumental. People want Hamas destroyed both militarily and politically, and I think it would be very difficult for Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, not to launch some sort of significant incursion at this point. So sorry there’s some soldiers calling out. … We have to leave. What’s going on?
Officer: The IDF, the IDF has issued an immediate alert that everybody has to leave. There is a security incident just near us.
Gutman: Okay. So, this is what I was talking… There’s been this battle–
Goldberg: Matt, do what you have to do.
Gutman: That we’ve been hearing about for, um… We’re going to just walk to the car, if you guys want to stay with us. Yeah, Whoopi?
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Goldberg: Go ahead and do what you got to do.
Gutman: We’re okay. We’re walking to the car anyway, which is right over there. But I just– can I explain what’s going on? They’ve had this battle, and I just want to show you what’s going on here.
Gutman continued his report as he and his team headed to their car while Goldberg and the rest of the panel implored him to “Get in the car.”
Once Gutman and his team reached their car, the shot cut back to the studio, where Goldberg noted, “Well, that’s what happens when it’s live and you’re in the middle of it. We got our fingers crossed that he’s safe.”
It appeared that Goldberg got word from the control room that they would hear from Gutman again. He continued his coverage a few minutes later after the commercial break.
WATCH:
Matt Gutman runs for his life live on #TheView pic.twitter.com/MIdgc4BMz2
— Mad Beefs (@MadBeefs) October 10, 2023
President Joe Biden admitted on Monday that it is likely Americans are among scores of hostages taken from Israel by Hamas forces after they invaded the country over the weekend.
He also confirmed that at least 11 American citizens are among the hundreds of dead following the Hamas attacks.
“It’s heart-wrenching,” Biden said in a statement, according to ABC News. “These families have been torn apart by inexcusable hatred and violence.”
He also said that his administration is aware there are American citizens who are missing and that officials are working with Israel to discover more about where they could be. He didn’t elaborate on the number of Americans currently unaccounted for as the fighting continues following an Israeli declaration of war.
“The safety of American citizens — whether at home or abroad — is my top priority as President,” Biden said, according to the news outlet.
“While we are still working to confirm, we believe it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held by Hamas,” he continued. “I have directed my team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts.”
Later in the evening on Monday, the White House said Biden would publicly address the situation on Tuesday around 1 p.m. EDT.
ABC News noted further:
Biden had no public events on Monday, drawing criticism from some Republicans, although the White House said he was meeting with members of his administration and speaking with close allies.
Earlier in the day, Rep. Kevin McCarthy held a press conference to propose a “five-point plan” for how the U.S. should respond — in which he said rescuing any American hostages should be the administration’s “first priority.”
“This administration must also make clear that harming any American will really result in the wrath of the United States,” McCarthy said. “We cannot repeat what happened in Afghanistan. It must be clear that we do not negotiate with terrorists and no American will be left behind.”
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Since the unexpected attacks by Hamas on Saturday, Israel has reported over 900 fatalities and 2,500 injuries. Israeli Defense Forces had previously indicated that around 100 individuals were unaccounted for, and on Monday, Hamas issued a threat that they would begin killing hostages unless Israel ended its practice of shelling homes in Gaza without prior warning, ABC News noted further.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told ABC News the White House has yet to confirm that there are U.S. citizens among the hostages taken by Hamas. However, he said the administration has been in “constant touch” with Israeli officials over the previous few hours.
“We don’t really know whether they’re just missing somewhere, or are lost, or whether they’re being held hostage,” Kirby said of the Americans whose whereabouts are unknown. “I think we have to accept the possibility that at least some of them are being held hostage by Hamas.”
“We just don’t have good, solid answers right now,” he added.