US official: No guarantees that Israeli captives can be released
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An official in the US administration says that there are no guarantees at all that the Israeli captives may be released.
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The Capitol is seen on the first day of a government shutdown after a divided Senate rejected a funding measure, in Washington, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018. (AP)
A US administration official said that the United States is focused on the task at hand, which is “containing the conflict” in Gaza.
The official stated that the United States is making efforts to negotiate the release of Israeli captives from Gaza, but said: "there are no guarantees its efforts will succeed". That said, no agreement has yet been reached on a humanitarian truce in Gaza, and any ceasefire agreement "depends on the Israelis feeling secure that the events of October 7 will not be repeated."
According to the US official, "Efforts to provide safe passage for the exit of Americans from Gaza were hindered due to Hamas’ efforts to remove its fighters," adding that "any effort to release about 200 detainees requires a major cessation of combat operations."
US shows concern over Hezbollah's involvement
Regarding the tensions on the northern border with Lebanon, a spokesperson for the White House's National Security Council considered that the United States does not wish to see the war in Gaza expand into Lebanon. The spokesperson remarked that Hezbollah, the Lebanese Resistance, should not "take advantage" of the situation, that is to say "Israel's" weakness.
The spokesperson's comments came right after the speech by Hezbollah's Secretary-General who addressed the Americans, saying, "You can stop the aggression against Gaza because it is the aggression you unleashed, and whoever wants to prevent a regional war must hasten to stop this aggression."
On her part, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters, "We and our partners have been clear: Hezbollah and other actors -- state or non-state -- should not try to take advantage of the ongoing conflict." "We will not engage in a war of words," Jean-Pierre said.
Meanwhile, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who only yesterday claimed he was pained by images of innocent Palestinian children, reiterated the US support for the Israeli occupation by expressing that so long as the US stands, "Israel will not stand alone.”
This bold expression of solidarity was also communicated to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli President Isaac Herzog along with the war cabinet.
Blinken claimed that he urged Israeli leaders to allow "humanitarian pauses" in the war on Gaza to allow aid to enter the besieged strip and allow captives to be released by Hamas.
