US officials are predicting a shift in the Israel-Hamas conflict, with Israel scaling down its air campaign and shifting its focus to a more strategic ground operation. While humanitarian aid continues to enter Gaza, a senior administration official informed CNN on Friday that the Biden administration foresees a reduction in the intensity of Israel's air campaign and a greater emphasis on a tactical ground campaign. This ground campaign aims to eliminate the extensive network of underground tunnel complexes that serve as Hamas's operational bases.
During his visit to Israel, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivered a press conference amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in Tel Aviv, Israel on November 3, 2023. The event was captured in this photograph taken by Jonathan Ernst and shows the Secretary of State addressing the audience.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
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The administration has been openly discussing wartime decisions and asking difficult questions in its conversations with Israel. This is happening even as the Israeli military faces international criticism for its targeting of the Jabalya Refugee Camp in Northern Gaza. According to the Israel Defense Forces, the strike was aimed at a Hamas commander who was hiding in an underground bunker. They claim that nearby buildings may have collapsed when the bunker was destroyed.
When asked about the possibility of calling for a ceasefire, the senior administration official stated that, given the magnitude and nature of the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, a ceasefire is not deemed appropriate at this time.
"A terrorist organization has seized 200 hostages and tragically claimed the lives of 1,400 individuals while clandestinely operating in tunnels, including their leaders. Ceasefire seems inadequate to describe the current situation," the official informed CNN.
The official restated that the US is actively urging Israel to implement what are known as humanitarian pauses. Furthermore, emphasis is being placed on Israel's obligation to abide by international humanitarian laws, even as it exercises its right to self-defense.
According to the official, a ceasefire is contingent upon Israeli confidence in preventing similar incidents in the future.
President Joe Biden has rejected appeals for a ceasefire, both at the United Nations, emphasizing that Israel has a "responsibility" to protect its citizens from terrorism. Neither he nor his administration have made any substantial criticism regarding Israel's approach to their offensive.
The Pentagon is seen from the air in Washington, U.S., March 3, 2022, more than a week after Russia invaded Ukraine.
Joshua Roberts/Reuters
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During a recent fundraiser in Minneapolis, Biden experienced an interruption caused by a protester. According to witnesses inside the room, the protester, who identified as a rabbi, urgently requested Biden to call for an immediate ceasefire. In response, the president voiced his support for a temporary halt in hostilities to facilitate the liberation of hostages detained in Gaza. Additionally, Biden highlighted the efforts he had undertaken to advocate for humanitarian assistance to Palestinians. Acknowledging the emotional nature of the situation, Biden continued his speech following the removal of the protester.
According to CNN, Biden's aides believe that the administration's messages of warning to Israel are more effectively conveyed in private. They also emphasize that behind the scenes, there have been much tougher discussions than what the public rhetoric might suggest.
Earlier this week, a significant development occurred as foreign passport holders and a group of critically injured civilians were finally allowed to leave Gaza through the Rafah border crossing. The first group departed on Wednesday. The efforts to secure safe passage faced obstacles from Hamas and a range of logistical challenges, which worsened the dire humanitarian situation for the thousands of foreigners, including hundreds of Americans, who were stuck in the war-torn region.
On Friday, the official announced that an equally intense process is currently underway to ensure the safe liberation of hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza. They mentioned that the previous release of two hostages last month was a trial run to assess the feasibility, indicating that it is indeed possible. However, the quantities of hostages being discussed pose significant challenges.
Negotiating a release for such a large number of hostages, they added, would require "a fairly significant pause in hostilities."
