Washington- John Kirby, White House National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, said Sunday that Israel told the Biden administration that the surprise decision to withdraw troops from southern Gaza was largely intended to “rest and rehabilitate.”
The Israeli army said on Sunday that it had only one division left in the Gaza Strip, after the other left on the last day. A spokesperson called the move a development in the war rather than a partial withdrawal. But the motivation behind this decision has not been entirely clear.
“The indications we received this morning are that the troops who have been on the ground now for four straight months are largely on rest and rest and they need a chance to come in, get out now,” Kirby said. on “Face the Nation” Sunday. “I can’t speak to what they will do with these troops after rest and reconditioning.”
Stressing that he cannot speak in favor of the operations of a sovereign army, Kirby stressed that the administration has made clear to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that it does not support a sovereign army. ground operation in Rafah, a densely populated area in southern Gaza, saying there are other options for taking on Hamas. He noted that the administration met virtually with Israeli officials last week and expects an in-person meeting “sometime next week” where they hope to discuss alternatives.
These developments come amid ongoing conflict between the Israeli Defense Forces and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. In a statement released Sunday, the Israeli military said it had completed another phase of preparation for a new conflict along its northern border with Lebanon.
“Over the past few days, another phase of Northern Command’s war preparations has been completed, focused on emergency operational storages for broad mobilization of IDF troops when needed…and their arrival on front line in a short time with all necessary combat equipment,” the Israeli military said in a statement on Telegram.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Sunday that Israeli troops withdrew from Khan Yunis in southern Gaza on Sunday “to prepare for future missions, including… in Rafah”, according to AFP . The forces were withdrawn after months of fierce fighting because “Hamas ceased to exist as a military cadre” in Khan Yunis, just north of Rafah, where more than 1.5 million Palestinians are sheltering.
The Israeli government has come under heavy criticism in recent days following the deaths of seven aid workers in Gaza.
Kirby reiterated Sunday that so far the United States has “not seen any indication” that Israel has “violated international humanitarian law,” but he noted that the State Department would “continue to review this matter.” “.
The day after strike last week that killed seven World Central Kitchen aid workersKirby said “there have been too many aid workers killed by Israeli operations” and added that was why the president “was so firm” with Netanyahu in subsequent call. Kirby reiterated that Israel must make “lasting changes in how it operates on the ground and how it allows humanitarian aid to enter” Gaza. After Netanyahu’s call with Mr. Biden last week, the Israeli government approved the opening of three humanitarian aid corridors specifically requested by the president.
The Israeli military said Friday it had fired two officers and reprimanded three others for their role in the attack.
Yet some members of the president’s own party said he must hold the Israeli government accountable for the massive civilian death toll in Gaza. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat who also appeared on “Face the Nation” on Sunday, said that while he was “happy” to see the president’s demands on Netanyahu, the White House needed to describe the “consequences” if Israel neglected them. the future.
“We need to make sure that when the president asks for something, we have a way to enforce it,” he said.
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