JERUSALEM: The White House is engaged in “intensive” discussions with Israel to redirect the focus of the Gaza war towards precise targeting of Hamas leaders instead of widespread bombing and ground operations, announced White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan on Friday. The US is encouraging Israel to transition into a phase that emphasizes intelligence-driven operations and precision in targeting, rather than broad military actions.
Sullivan, during his visit to Israel, emphasized the need for a more focused approach, stating, “There will be a transition to another phase of this war, one that is focused in more precise ways on targeting the leadership and on intelligence-driven operations.” However, he did not specify when this transition would occur.
International Community Pressures Israel Against Civilian Casualties
Israel has faced global pressure to modify its offensive strategy, which has resulted in significant casualties among innocent Palestinians. Nearly 19,000 Palestinian people have been killed so far in Israeli military attacks in Gaza.
Sullivan, after discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and military leaders, indicated ongoing talks about the timing and conditions of transitioning to a more targeted phase. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant suggested the war would extend beyond several months.
The United States has been privately pushing for a swifter end to the high-intensity phase of the conflict. President Joe Biden cautioned this week that international sentiment was turning against Israel due to the high civilian casualties in Gaza.
When pressed about the possibility of withholding military aid if the conflict doesn’t deescalate, Sullivan refrained from direct comments and stressed that discussions on this matter should be held privately. He emphasized the importance of seeing results matching Israel’s assurances regarding the distinction between civilians and fighters.
