2023-12-27 03:23:14
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer discussed Tuesday Israel’s move to “a different phase” of its war against Hamas in Gaza, according to a U.S. official.
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Jake Sullivan discussed with this close friend of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “the transition to a new phase of the war to concentrate on important Hamas targets”, according to this official of the American executive branch, who requested anonymity.
Also discussed during this exchange were “practical steps to improve the humanitarian situation and minimize the harm done to civilians” and “efforts” to promote the release of hostages still in the hands of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas.
Historical allies of Israel, the United States is increasingly insisting that Israel favor more targeted operations, and Democratic President Joe Biden has publicly expressed his disagreements with the conservative government of Benjamin Netanyahu.
Earlier Tuesday, as the Israeli army further intensified its deadly strikes on Gaza, its chief of staff Herzi Halevi said the war would last “many more months.”
On Tuesday, these senior officials also discussed the need to “prepare for the next day, including (the question of) the governance and security of Gaza, a political horizon for the Palestinians and a continuation of the work on standardization,” said a White House official.
The Israel/Hamas war has put on hold discussions on a possible normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia, which Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said in September was getting “closer” day by day.
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