TEL AVIV — US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin discussed with Israeli leaders on Monday ways to reduce major combat operations in Gaza, but he said that Washington I wasn’t imposing a schedule.
Austin and other US officials have repeatedly expressed concern about the high number of civilian deaths in Gaza. Israel It maintains that it avoids causing them, but civilians are used as human shields by Hamas. The head of Defense underlined American support for the campaign Israel aimed at crushing the terrorist group. Neither side gave more details Monday about what needed to change on the ground to move to more precise operations after weeks of bombing and a ground offensive.
At a news conference alongside Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Austin said: “This is Israel’s operation. “I’m not here to dictate schedules or terms.” The United States has vetoed calls for a ceasefire at the UN and has sent ammunition to Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that Israel will fight on until it ousts Hamas from power, crushes its formidable military capabilities and recovers the approximately 129 hostages still being held by the terrorist group after its Oct. 7 attack, which sparked the war.
Meanwhile, Israeli protesters have demanded that the government resume talks with Hamas on the release of more hostages after three of them were mistakenly killed by Israeli soldiers.
New talks to free hostages
Talks were underway on Monday to negotiate the release of more hostages held by the terrorists. CIA Director William Burns met in Warsaw with the head of the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad and the prime minister of Qatar, a US official said. It was the first known meeting of the three since a week-long truce ended in late November, during which about 100 hostages were freed in exchange for the release of about 240 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
Some 1.9 million Palestinians — nearly 85% of Gaza’s population — have fled their homes, with most staying in UN-run shelters and camps in the south of the besieged territory.
Austin, who arrived in Israel with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, said he and Israeli officials exchanged “ideas on how to transition from high-intensity operations” and how to increase the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
“Selective” operations
US authorities have called for targeted operations aimed at killing Hamas leaders, destroying tunnels and rescuing those held captive by the terrorist group. Those calls came after US President Joe Biden warned that Israel is losing international support due to its “indiscriminate bombings,” a move by Biden to avoid losing support in the 2024 elections in which he is running for re-election.
Speaking alongside Austin, Gallant simply said that “the war will take time.” Last week, Gallant said Israel will continue major combat operations for several more months.
Support for Israel
“We will continue to provide Israel the equipment you need to defend your country, (…), including critical munitions, tactical vehicles and air defense systems,” said US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin in a statement after meeting in Tel Aviv with the first Israeli Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Austin also referred to the Jewish state as Washington’s “best friend” and said that his country “will not set the tempo or deadlines of the war.”
Source: With information from AFP and AP
