PNN – During his trip to Tel Aviv, the US Secretary of State asked the Israeli authorities to reduce the pressure on Washington to fully support Israel by accepting a pause in the war.
According to the International group of Pakistan News Network, An American official and 3 Israeli officials said US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken told his Israeli counterparts on a visit to Tel Aviv that agreeing to humanitarian pauses in the war would help Washington ease the growing pressure it faces to support Israel.
The Axios website, which is a media outlet close to the security-military sources of the Zionist regime, reported that Blinken also told the Israeli authorities that agreeing to the humanitarian pauses will help Israel buy time to advance ground operations in Gaza.
The Biden administration has publicly said it supports Israel’s goal of destroying Hamas’ military capabilities, but has come under increasing pressure from some Democratic representatives in Congress, as well as from its Arab allies and partners, to call for a ceasefire.
Israeli officials say Blinken told his Israeli counterparts that the Biden administration has come under fire both domestically and internationally for its full support for Israel.
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Blinken also told Benjamin Netanyahu and members of Israel’s war cabinet that he knew the Israeli operation against Hamas would take more than a few days.
American and Israeli officials have said that Blinken said that because of the pressure the United States is facing, a pause in the war will help Israel buy more time to advance its operations.
Sources cited by Axios said Blinken’s message to Israeli officials was: “We don’t want to stop you, but help us to help you get more time.”
Israeli officials, including War Minister Yoav Galant and Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Herzi Halevi, have told Blinken that an end to the war will not happen unless all the hostages are released.
In his consultations with Israeli officials, Blinken told them that the increase in the number of civilian casualties in Gaza and the release of images such as those related to airstrikes on the Jabalia camp will not help the Biden administration to fend off the pressures it is facing.
Gallant defended the attack on the Jabalia camp, claiming that Hamas operatives had hidden themselves surrounded by dozens of civilians.
He also claimed that one of the commanders of Hamas and 20 other members of this group who were involved in the October 7 operation were killed in that operation. Meanwhile, Hamas has denied the martyrdom of one of its commanders in this attack.