US steps up pressure on 'Israel' to deescalate situation in Gaza

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Amid the continuous heinous Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip for the third consecutive day, Israeli correspondent Barak Ravid revealed that US President Joe Biden's administration officials stressed to "Israel" the need to de-escalate the ongoing situation in Gaza.

"Biden administration officials spoke last night with their Israeli counterparts and stressed that while the U.S. supports Israel's right to defend itself, there is a need to de-escalate the situation in Gaza," Ravid tweeted.

The Israeli correspondent suggested that "the fact that the Biden administration made these messages public suggests there is a growing pressure by the U.S. on Israel to end its military operation in Gaza."

Despite the Pentagon saying that US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Wednesday "reaffirmed his ironclad support for Israel’s security," it said that the US Defense chief "urged de-escalation towards a sustainable calm."

Similarly, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke to his Israeli counterpart Tzachi Hanegbi, "noted continued regional efforts to broker a ceasefire, and emphasized the need to deescalate tensions and prevent further loss of life," as per a White House statement.

🚨Biden administration officials spoke last night with their Israeli counterparts and stressed that while the U.S. supports Israel's right to defend itself, there is a need to de-escalate the situation in Gaza

— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) May 11, 2023

Ongoing efforts for a ceasefire

In the same context, Kan correspondent Gili Cohen cited an unnamed Israeli source as saying that despite the continuation of the Israeli aggression against Gaza, "there are still efforts for a ceasefire," pointing out that "Egypt, Qatar, the UN, and the US are involved in the talks, with different intensity and influence."

The Israeli official said that "all parties have an interest in bringing about a ceasefire," as per Cohen's tweet.

גורם ישראלי: למרות המשך המבצע, יש עדיין מאמצים להפסקת אש. מצרים קטאר האו"ם וגם ארה"ב מעורבות בשיחות, בעוצמה ובהשפעה שונה. לפי הגורם הישראלי, לכל הצדדים יש אינטרס להביא להפסקת אש. היועץ לביטחון לאומי של ארה"ב שוחח הלילה עם עמיתו הנגבי ואמר: צריך להביא לרגיעה ולמניעת אובדן חיי אדם

— Gili Cohen (@gilicohen10) May 11, 2023

It is noteworthy that on Wednesday, sources in the Palestinian Resistance factions' joint operations room told Al Mayadeen that "the occupation pressed through various mediators to push for a ceasefire," noting that "the resistance remained steadfast in its demand for a clear [Israeli] commitment to stopping the assassinations policy."

The sources also expressed the Resistance's "readiness to fight for the longest time period yet and to expand the ring of fire if necessary."

Aggression on Gaza could not alter deterrence equation: Israeli media

Israeli media reported on Wednesday that the aggression on Gaza failed to break any equation or change anything fundamental, advising the government to come clean with the Israeli occupation settlers on that matter.

"It is recommended that the government explain this truth" to the settlers in the Gaza envelope "before they wake up in a few weeks or days to the disturbing sound of the next red color alarm," "Israel" Hayom reported.

The newspaper stated that "those who brag from the Israeli side about changing the equation are invited to go back to where it all started: This is the third time in three and a half years that Israel has tried the same maneuver, which means that the deterrence against the Islamic Jihad is short-lived and needs constant reinforcement."

In the absence of a solution regarding "the Gaza problem (and Palestinian issue in general), Israel will continue to engage in battles with Gaza, the essence of which is engaging in short fighting rounds with the aim of achieving the longest possible truces between the two sides."

Israeli aggression on Gaza continues, Resistance targets settlements

Earlier, the Palestinian Ministry of Health announced that the number of Palestinians martyred, as a result, has risen to 25, in addition to more than 70 injuries.

The Palestinian Resistance renewed its rocket fire toward the occupied Palestinian territories. Al Mayadeen correspondent reported that successive salvoes of rockets were fired from Gaza on Thursday, as warning sirens sounded in the illegal settlement of "Kissufim", while the Israeli Iron Dome anti-air system attempted to intercept the Resistance's missiles.

Israeli media confirmed that about 500 rockets were launched on Wednesday from the Gaza Strip toward "Israel", pointing out that the Israeli occupation security and military establishment is anticipating a broad response from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) movement following the assassination of Ali Hassan Ghali, a member of Al-Quds Brigades military council and the head of the brigade's missile unit.

According to the media, the salvoes of rockets fired from Gaza toward the center of the occupied Palestinian territories contradict the assurances that the occupation received from Egyptian mediators.

PIJ warns Israeli occupation

The Palestinian Resistance responded to the Israeli aggression by launching hundreds of rockets toward "Tel Aviv" and the Gaza envelope settlements, in an operation it codenamed Operation Avenging The Free.

The PIJ warned the Israeli occupation that its policy of bombing civilian homes would be met with the relentless shelling of "Tel Aviv" and the occupied Palestinian territories.

Sources in the Resistance told Al Mayadeen that "the recent bombing of Tel Aviv, Beer Al-Sabe, and other cities came to confirm that there is no truce except on the terms of the Resistance," noting that "in the event that the enemy does not adhere to the conditions of the Resistance, we are going to expand the circle of fire."

Private sources revealed to Al Mayadeen that "the missiles that targeted Tel Aviv and its environs are of new technologies that enabled them to bypass the Iron Dome," stressing that "the battle is not over yet."

Footage of the #Palestinian Resistance Factions' Joint Operations Room launching salvoes of rockets toward the Israeli occupation as part of #OperationAvengingTheFree.#Palestine #Gaza #PalestineResists #ثأر_الاحرار pic.twitter.com/QcIRAoxqjN

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 10, 2023

Read more: Chance to establish 'long-term deterrence is low': Israeli NSC chief

PIJ says assassinations of top officials to not go unanswered

Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the PIJ, announced on Thursday the martyrdom of senior official Ali Hassan Ghali, a PIJ official told Al Mayadeen.

"Al-Quds Brigades has bid farewell to military council member and head of the Brigades' missile unit Ali Hassan Ghali," PIJ senior Khamis Al-Haitham said.

Moreover, the Palestinian official underlined that the Israeli occupation's assassination would not go unanswered, as all options are on the table for the Palestinian resistance.

Al Mayadeen correspondent reported on Thursday dawn that three Palestinians were martyred in an Israeli airstrike that targeted a residential building in Hamad City, northwest of Khan Yunis, the Gaza Strip.

Al-Quds Brigades announced the martyrdom of Ali Hassan Ghali, a member of the group's military council and the head of the brigades' missile unit, saying he was martyred in an Israeli assassination exacted at Wednesday dawn alongside several other PIJ fighters in the north of Khan Yunis.

#Palestinian civilians resided in the residential buildings targeted, and reports suggest that many have been injured. The Israeli occupation continues its aggression on #Gaza, ignoring international laws and calls to stop targeting civilians.#GazaUnderAttack… pic.twitter.com/CXHWpEjlAh

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 10, 2023

Ghali is the fourth senior PIJ official to be assassinated in 48 hours.

The Israeli occupation forces said its airstrikes on Gaza have killed Jihad Ghannam, the chief of the southern command of the Al-Quds Brigades, and his wife.

The Israeli occupation's air raids also targeted Islamic Jihad spokesperson Tarek Ezzedine's house. The PIJ official was martyred.

Another martyr was the commander of the northern region of the Islamic Jihad, commander Khalil Al-Bahtini.

Read more: Palestinians voice solidarity with Gaza Strip amid aggression