Biden urges Israel to halt major conflict with Hamas: Report
Israeli soldiers ride in an armored personnel carrier, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, near the border between Israel and Gaza Strip, in Israel, October 31, 2023. (Reuters)
The Biden Administration Urges Israel to Scale Back War with Hamas
The Biden administration is reportedly pushing Israel to scale back its war with Hamas, in the latest apparent rift between the president and the Jewish state’s government.
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan met with Israeli leaders Thursday to urge a transition from the large-scale war that Israel is engaging against the terror group to a new phase in which the Israeli military would utilize special forces to take out Hamas leaders, rescue remaining hostages, and destroy tunnels in the Gaza Strip, the New York Times reported, citing four anonymous senior American officials.
The administration would hope for the transition to occur within the next three weeks or soon after. The Times‘s sources told the outlet that Sullivan’s urging was not a directive or an order to the Israeli government.
Israeli officials have not indicated that they plan to slow down the war effort. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told Sullivan on Thursday that the war would continue for “more than several months, but we will win,” according to NBC News.
“Nothing will stop us,” said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Wednesday. “We are going on to the end, until victory, nothing less.”
Biden Criticizes Israel’s Bombing of Gaza Strip
As the war has progressed, the president has been increasingly critical of Netanyahu. Biden on Tuesday called Israel’s bombing of the Gaza Strip ”indiscriminate” and said it is causing Israel to lose support among other nations. Over 18,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have died in the conflict, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza.
Americans Show Support for Israel’s War on Hamas
Americans generally support Israel’s war on Hamas, according to a Wall Street Journal poll from earlier this week. Biden’s handling of the war, however, had an approval rating of 37 percent among that poll’s respondents.
How might the push for de-escalation strain the relationship between the United States and Israel
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The push for a de-escalation in the conflict comes as the death toll continues to rise, with both Israeli and Palestinian civilians paying the price for the ongoing violence. The Biden administration, like many international leaders, is concerned about the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region and the long-lasting impact it will have on the stability of the Middle East.
By calling for a shift in strategy, the Biden administration is signaling its support for Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas but also its desire for a more targeted approach that minimizes civilian casualties and the destruction of critical infrastructure. The use of special forces would allow for precise strikes on high-value targets while minimizing collateral damage.
However, this push for de-escalation may strain the relationship between the United States and Israel, as the Israeli government has been pursuing an aggressive military campaign against Hamas in response to rocket attacks launched from the Gaza Strip. Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has vowed to ”bring back quiet and security” to Israeli citizens, and it is unclear how open he will be to changing tactics at this crucial juncture.
The United States has long been a staunch ally of Israel, providing significant military and financial assistance. However, tensions have arisen between the Biden administration and the Israeli government over issues such as the Iran nuclear deal and Israeli settlements in the West Bank. This latest disagreement over military strategy in the conflict with Hamas further underscores the complex nature of the U.S.-Israel relationship.
It remains to be seen how the Israeli government will respond to the Biden administration’s push for de-escalation. The conflict with Hamas has already caused immense suffering and devastation, and finding a path towards a lasting peace will be a daunting challenge. As the international community watches closely, there is hope that diplomatic efforts and a willingness to engage in constructive dialogue can help bring an end to the violence and pave the way for a more stable future in the region.
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