US expects 'Israel' to be 'transparent' about UNRWA school massacre
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The US State Department's spokesperson says the United States does not want the war in Gaza to expand.
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A member of the United Nations checks the UNRWA school after it was bombed by the Israeli occupation, resulting in the killing of over 30 people in the Nuseirat camp, Gaza on June 6, 2024. (AFP)
The United States called on the Israeli occupation to disclose the details of its bombing of the UNRWA school sheltering forcibly displaced families in the Nuseirat in Gaza, which resulted in the martyrdom of over 40 Palestinians, many of whom were children.
"The government of Israel has said that they are going to release more information about this strike, including the names of those who died in it. We expect them to be fully transparent in making that information public," State Department's Spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a press briefing.
Asked about the current situation regarding the ceasefire proposal, Miller said that the US has yet to receive any official response from Hamas.
Regarding the ongoing confrontations between Hezbollah and Israeli occupation forces on the Lebanese-Palestinian border, the spokesperson said Washington "has been clear since October 7" that it does not want the war to expand.
Read more: The existential threat Hezbollah poses on 'Israel'; a striking reality
"One of our top priorities" in this war "was not to see it expand" and that "remains the case," he said, adding that the US continues to discuss this issue with "Israel" and regional countries.
Miller reiterated that "Israel has the right to defend itself" but expressed concern "about the risk of escalation" that could lead to the war widening.
'Not a realistic option'
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that "Israel" was "prepared for a very intense operation" along the border with Lebanon. His Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has even issued calls for invading and occupying Lebanese territory.
American officials informed Axios that the Biden administration conveyed to "Israel" its view that "a limited war" in Lebanon or a "small regional war" is not a "realistic option" because it would be challenging to prevent it from escalating out of control.
The confrontations have seen a significant escalation in the last couple of weeks, pushing some within the Israeli government and military to advocate for a substantial expansion of the fighting in Lebanon.
However, the Biden administration believes that restoring calm will be impossible without achieving a ceasefire in Gaza, the news site added.
'Not accurate'
Earlier today, Politico reported that US President Joe Biden and his team are exerting considerable efforts to ensure that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu feels compelled from all directions to promptly end the war on Gaza.
US officials and personnel involved in what they dub the "crisis" fear that this could be the best, last opportunity to bring the captives back and lower the intensity of the war, the report said.
A senior Israeli official told NBC News earlier this week that Biden’s description of "Israel’s" ceasefire proposal was "not accurate", disputing claims that the occupation agreed to completely withdraw its forces from Gaza in exchange for the captives.
Read more: Hamas insists on primary demands for any exchange agreement: Officials
US and Israeli military officials have expressed serious doubts that "Israel" would be able to achieve the war objective of "absolute victory" and the "elimination of Hamas," two slogans that the Israeli government based its war on.
On May 5, the Palestinian Resistance movement Hamas announced accepting an agreement put forward by the mediators Qatar and Egypt and approved by the US. The deal was almost completely identical to the one submitted by Washington and Tel Aviv earlier. However, Netanyahu rejected the proposal on May 6, declaring that the war would continue until objectives were achieved.
In a press conference on Tuesday, top Hamas official Osama Hamdan emphasized the movement's stance communicated to the mediators, which stipulates that they cannot agree to any deal that fails to ensure a lasting ceasefire and comprehensive withdrawal from Gaza.
"The occupation will not see its captives held by the Resistance except through a serious and genuine deal where our Palestinian prisoners enjoy freedom," Hamdan asserted.
