Middle East - Gaza Strip: USA backs weakening of ground offensive
Following talks with the Israeli leadership, the US government expects the "high-intensity" ground offensive in the Gaza Strip to transition to "more targeted" military operations.
There had never been an expectation that there would be a major destructive ground operation indefinitely, said a senior representative of the US government in Tel Aviv. The aim was for Israel to concentrate more closely on specific targets and military infrastructure in the future. He was speaking about the meetings of the US National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, in Israel - including with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This transition was discussed in these meetings.
No timeframe for the transition
However, the US government representative did not specify a timeframe for the transition. "It's not really about timeframes, it's about the terms that are set, and the Israelis have given us very detailed information about the phases of their entire campaign," he said. The "New York Times" had previously reported that Washington had called on Israel to end the ground offensive in Gaza by the end of the year. The government representative did not explicitly address this report, but said: "There have been some reports about the time frame and I have to say that they are not entirely accurate."
"I think the Israelis had ideas for the military operation very early on, which we thought was problematic," he added. This had been discussed with the Israeli government and the military operation had been "adjusted based on some of our advice, some of our recommendations". The US government reiterated that Israel must do everything in its power to protect the civilian population.
Meeting between Sullivan and Abbas
The US government representative also announced that Security Advisor Sullivan would meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah on Friday. With a view to the end of the war and the future of the Gaza Strip, the US government representative spoke of a "number of security forces linked to the Palestinian Authority". These could "form a kind of core" in the months after the war. "But that's something we're discussing with the Palestinians and the Israelis and with regional partners," he said.
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- Despite the anticipated transition, ongoing conflicts in the Palestinian territories, particularly in the Gaza Strip, remain a significant concern for the international community, including the USA.
- Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, acknowledged the role of the USA in advocating for a less aggressive approach to the conflict, aiming to mitigate the impact on civilians in Gaza.
- The USA has urged for a reduction in the intensity of the ground offensive in the Gaza Strip, advocating for more focused military operations to minimize damage and loss of life.
- Jake Sullivan, the US National Security Advisor, met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, discussing potential reconciliation efforts and the future stabilization of the Gaza Strip.
- The Gaza Strip has experienced a long history of conflicts, and the USA's involvement in negotiating a transition towards less hostile military operations could potentially pave the way for a more peaceful Middle Eastern future.
- The US government representative in Tel Aviv emphasized the need for Israel to be mindful of the protection of civilian populations during its operations, a sentiment shared by the international community in response to the ongoing conflicts in the Palestinian territories.
- While the timeline for the transition remains undetermined, ongoing diplomatic efforts between the USA, Israel, and Palestinian Authority aim to establish a more stable and secure environment in the Gaza Strip for its inhabitants, safeguarding civilians and promoting regional peace and security.
Source: www.stern.de
