The conflicting American positions regarding the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip continued. While a senior official said that Israel was taking Washington’s concerns into account as it carried out military operations in Rafah, others said they were desperate for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who stressed his plan to “eliminate Hamas and release the hostages.”
The Associated Press quoted a senior US administration official as saying that Israel responded to many of President Joe Biden’s concerns about its plan to carry out a large-scale military operation in the city of Rafah in southern Gaza.
The official – who requested anonymity – said that in conversations that took place over the weekend with White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Israeli officials made several changes that appear to address concerns about expanding the military operation in Rafah, the official said. .
For its part, Reuters quoted a senior American official as saying that the American administration had submitted a series of specific requests to Israel regarding how to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The American official said that Washington held a very detailed discussion with the Israelis regarding how to transition to a phase of stability in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Israeli Army Radio quoted American officials accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of being unable to discuss ways to push toward an agreement with Hamas due to the political situation.
According to the radio, American officials said that they were desperate for Netanyahu, noting that dialogue with him was without a strategic vision.
Plan the next day
As for US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, he said that there have been intensive efforts made in recent months with the participation of Qatar and Egypt to reach an agreement on a ceasefire and the release of prisoners, indicating that this matter is still in place.
During his testimony before a congressional hearing, Blinken described the decision of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants against Netanyahu and his Defense Minister Yoav Galant as wrong, and said that it frustrates efforts to end the conflict in Gaza.
He added that the US administration will work with Congress on an appropriate response to the criminal court’s decision.
In Israel, Netanyahu said, “The plan for the day after the war comes after the complete elimination of Hamas.”
He added – in an interview with the American CNN network – that “Israeli military operations are the way to release the hostages held in Gaza,” stressing his intention to “eliminate Hamas and release the hostages together.”
Since last October 7, Israel has been waging a devastating war on Gaza with absolute American support, leaving more than 115,000 Palestinians dead and wounded, most of them children and women, and about 10,000 missing amid massive destruction and famine that claimed the lives of children and the elderly.
Israel continues the war on Gaza despite the issuance of a resolution by the UN Security Council to stop the fighting immediately, and despite the International Court of Justice demanding immediate measures to prevent acts of genocide and improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza.