Widening gap between 'Israel', US over third stage of Gaza war

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
30 Dec 2023 11:49

The Israeli Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper says the US wants to see the transition to the third stage completed, while "Israel" wants to launch it only.

Israeli occupation soldiers keeping position along the border with the Gaza Strip, on December 29, 2023 (JACK GUEZ/AFP)

The Israeli Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper suggested that "Israel" is approaching the "third stage" in its aggression on Gaza, but disagreements with the United States are increasing over the timing of the transition to this phase.

After Israeli Security Minister Yoav Gallant and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin held a phone conversation Thursday evening, a US statement was issued on the discussions, but it "concealed the main gap between Israel and the United States" regarding the timing of the transition to the third stage of the war, the newspaper pointed out.

The statement mentioned that both sides discussed "Israel's military campaign in Gaza and preparations for the stabilization phase that will follow major combat operations."

The Yedioth Ahronoth report pointed out that both the Americans and the Israelis are aware that the transition from a high-density operational phase to a phase with reduced bombing and firing pace should take time as the Israeli military needs at least a few days to safely withdraw two brigades, especially since the size of the Israeli forces in Gaza is approaching five brigades.

The newspaper indicated that the gap between Washington and "Tel Aviv" is widening regarding timing, as the United States wants to see the transition to the next stage completed, while "Israel" wants to launch it only.

According to the report, the transition to the third stage of the war would see the Israeli forces withdraw from specific attack areas, while ground incursions into targets inside the Gaza Strip, as well as air raids, will persist.

It explained that while the Israeli military moves to this stage north of the Gaza Strip, intensive offensive activity in Khan Younis will continue until all the goals announced by Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are achieved, which include releasing all captives held by the Palestinian Resistance and "destroying Hamas".

In addition, Yedioth Ahronoth suggested that the third stage of the war will witness "a security belt or a buffer zone built along the border between Israel and Gaza, more than one kilometer long, where the army ensures that no one can enter the weapon-free zone by all means."

It is also expected that the Israeli occupation military will prevent the return of Gazans without supervision to the northern Gaza Strip but will allow their return under certain conditions and to a certain extent.

Elsewhere, the Israeli newspaper concluded the report by saying that "unlike the second stage, the third stage of the war is expected to take between nine months and two years, but it is not expected that Hamas will be destroyed by its end."