US officers talking 'consequences' of Gaza invasion with Israelis: WH
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During a Monday press briefing, Kirby explained that officers present in "Israel" are sharing perspectives and "asking hard questions."
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National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, speaks Monday Oct. 23, 2023, during a briefing at the White House in Washington (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
According to White House Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby, the US is sending experienced military commanders to Israel to discuss thoughts on Israeli actions in Gaza and to confront their Israeli counterparts.
This comes as US and Israeli sources told Axios that the Biden administration recently dispatched a Marine three-star general and several other US military commanders to the Israeli occupation to help the military's leadership in its continued aggression on Gaza.
According to a top Israeli source, Lt. Gen. James Glynn is among the Marine Corps officers assigned.
During a Monday press briefing, Kirby explained that officers present in "Israel" are sharing perspectives and "asking hard questions."
Kirby detailed to reporters that among the discussions are the consequences of a ground invasion in Gaza, explaining that “We are talking to them about all kinds of consequences," stressing that the Israeli occupation forces will ultimately decide "what they do when they do it and how they do it."
Kirby said that the US's main priority is the same as the Israelis, which is to "destroy Hamas."
Kirby also noted that to date there has been no evidence humanitarian aid sent to Gaza has been diverted to Hamas.
"We have seen no indications as of today that any of the material in those trucks have been diverted to Hamas or been absconded by Hamas."
'Israel's' ground invasion of Gaza a 'terrible mistake': NYT
According to Thomas L. Friedman, while US President Joe Biden expressed solidarity with "Israel" during his trip to "Tel Aviv", he also urged that they consider their next steps carefully so as not to repeat US mistakes that came after the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan.
Friedman wrote in The New York Times that Biden was unsuccessful at convincing Israeli officials to hold back. Furthermore, he believes that if "Israel" jumps into an invasion of Gaza without appropriately expressing consideration of a "two-state solution" with the Palestinian Authority and ceasing illegal settlements expansion in the West Bank, it will be endangering its own interests, as well as those of the US.
In particular, Friedman warns that any such move could mean the end of the "Oslo Accords", the so-called "Abraham Accords", and any chance of normalization between the Israeli occupation and Saudi Arabia.
Friedman believes that the issue is unrelated to revenge on Hamas and is more about not acting in a way that benefits Iran and Russia. If "Israel" enters Gaza and alienates "moderate" Palestinian authorities in the West Bank, no coalition or union will go into Gaza to "take it off 'Israel's' hands."
According to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, while speaking to CBS on Sunday, he revealed that the administration is communicating with the occupation forces regarding their military goals.
Blinken claimed the US was concerned about "making sure that civilians are as protected as they possibly can be."
"Israel" has reiterated that its goal is to destroy Hamas, repeatedly targetting civilians and humanitarian workers since its assault on Gaza began under the guise of "Self-defense."
