US not 'pulling brakes' or giving 'Israel' deadline for war on Gaza

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Axios
9 Dec 2023 00:04

Axios quotes a senior Israeli official as saying that the "high-intensity" phase of the war on Gaza is estimated to continue for six to eight weeks.

Palestinians search for survivors and bodies of martyrs through the rubble of buildings destroyed in Israeli airstrikes, which led to a massacre, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, October 26, 2023 (AFP)

The United States is neither imposing a deadline on "Israel" regarding its war on Gaza nor "pulling the brakes" on the invasion but is only suggesting that time is running out, a senior Israeli security official said, according to Axios.

The official added that the military operation in Khan Younis is expected to be concluded in the next three to four weeks, while the war on Gaza in its "high-intensity" phase is estimated to continue for another three to four weeks as well, Axios reported, citing a senior Israeli military official.

This comes after the White House reiterated its full support for the Israeli occupation entity's war on the Strip amid increasing international and domestic pressure on the administration of US President Joe Biden for a ceasefire and an end to the inhumane aggression on Gaza.

In its latest report, the Palestinian Health Ministry said the death toll from the war has surpassed 17,400 Palestinian martyrs, and more than 56,000 citizens were injured with various injuries.

The Israeli occupation forces "have made significant progress" in northern Gaza, a senior Israeli security member claimed, as per the report, adding that the operation in the southern city of Khan Younis "has just started."

According to the news site, Biden discussed on Thursday the Israeli military strategies and the situation in Khan Younis with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Later that night, a similar discussion was held between US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Israeli Security Minister Yoav Gallant.

However, the Israeli official mentioned that Washington is not imposing a strict deadline to halt the war but is indicating that time is limited. The main divergence between the Biden administration and the occupation government is in the one-month timeframe "Tel Aviv" has set before ending the "high-intensity" phase of its war.

White House Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer, speaking at the Aspen Security Forum in Washington, confirmed that Washington did not give Israelis a deadline on their war.

"This is their conflict. That said, we do have influence, even if we don't have ultimate control over what happens on the ground in Gaza," he said.

The Israeli military official highlighted that the US prefers a faster conclusion of the war and fewer civilian deaths, claiming that the occupation entity shares that desire.

"But there is another player here and this is the enemy that doesn't agree," he said, adding, "The U.S. understands this. We are working together. We need them and they need us."

Meanwhile, a National Security Council spokesperson stated, "These are Israeli military operations, and the Israelis will decide their course. We will continue to support Israel's efforts to defend itself from Hamas terrorists."