In recent days, the United States has appealed to Israel to hold off on launching a full-fledged ground invasion of Gaza, according to two individuals with knowledge of the situation who spoke with The Jerusalem Post on Sunday. The appeal is rooted in Washington’s desire to give diplomatic efforts surrounding a potential hostage release more time to bear fruit.
The Biden administration’s request reportedly involved two central elements: holding back on an expansive ground campaign and allowing negotiations to unfold concurrently with military actions already underway.
Although the Israel Defense Forces are currently engaged in intense activity within Gaza, officials in the capital have emphasized that when the next stage of the ground operation begins in earnest, Israeli forces will remain in any territory they enter. According to those officials, even a hostage deal would not lead to a withdrawal, and introducing a ceasefire into the equation would significantly complicate matters.
“Once the maneuver begins, we will act with full force and will not stop until all objectives are achieved,” Defense Minister Yisroel Katz said several days ago.
Despite the tempo of military operations and declarations from Israeli leadership, American officials have urged that space be left open for the ongoing talks aimed at securing the release of hostages. “If there’s an opportunity for a temporary ceasefire to bring back hostages, we are prepared for that,” Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu said last Wednesday.
Tensions rose further when Israel pulled its negotiating team from Qatar on Thursday. The decision followed Hamas’s demand for assurances from the United States that any agreement would also bring an end to the war—an insistence Israel was unwilling to entertain.
{Matzav.com Israel}