The spokesman for the White House National Security Council, John Kirby affirmed this Monday that the United States will respect Israel’s decisions on when and how it will carry out a possible ground invasion of Gaza.
“The Israeli defense will make the decisions it must according to its political leadership. You will make decisions about what to do, when you will do it, and how you will do it.”he stated in a virtual press conference with international media.
Kirby thus responded to publications that appeared in American media that affirm, based on sources in Joe Biden’s Government, that the Administration advised Israel to delay a ground invasion of Gaza hoping to buy time for hostage negotiations.
The US, pending Israel’s every move
The New York Times contends that U.S. officials also want more time to prepare for attacks on U.S. interests in the region by Iranian-backed groups, which officials say will likely intensify once Israel moves its forces completely into Gaza.
Read also: US opposes a ceasefire between Israel and Palestine Why?
Kirby therefore did not recognize this alleged request made to Israel, although he did say that since the outbreak of the conflict on October 7, they have been talking to Israel about the consequences that an entry on foot into the battlefield would bring and “what that would mean.” .
“I’m not going to get ahead of the Israelis and what they do or don’t do because that would be completely inappropriate. But, Of course, we are talking to you about all kinds of consequences (…) and we will continue to do so,” he stated.
Kirby also referred to the decision made by Hamas to release two American citizens last Friday and said that “The less said about the effort to get the hostages out, the better the chances.” to take them out.
“I would be reluctant to put anything in the public domain that might make it difficult for us to do this in the future. So all I can tell you is that we continue to consult and talk with partners in the region to try to get more hostages out,” he stated.