ARAB AND WORLD

Thu 30 Nov 2023 3:16 pm - Jerusalem Time

Washington will not impose conditions on military aid to Israel

High-ranking American officials confirmed in an interview with Politico newspaper that the administration of US President Joe Biden does not intend to place any conditions on future military aid to Israel, despite public comments indicating that the idea is under study.


Amid growing calls from Democrats to impose conditions on military aid to Israel, President Biden told reporters that the idea of imposing conditions on how Israel uses American weapons is “an interesting idea,” prompting his administration officials to clarify that: “This is not something we are currently seeking.”


These comments come amid reports that the United States is pressuring Israel to show restraint when it resumes and expands its military operations in southern Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians who fled the south are located.


John Kirby, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, said on Wednesday that the United States "has been clear with the Israelis that we do not support them moving forward with their operations in the south unless they have a plan to deal with the increased level of civilians there."


But there is no indication that the administration is using any of its influence over Israel to limit civilian casualties, and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant has vowed that Israeli operations will be greater than before once the hostage deal truce ends.


Regarding President Biden's tweet indicating that he supports a real ceasefire in Gaza on Tuesday night, the president's platform X: "To continue on the path of terrorism, violence, murder and war is to give Hamas what it seeks. We cannot do that," which he viewed as a major shift in The president's speech, after Biden had previously rejected the idea of a permanent ceasefire, said a senior administration official who spoke to Jewish Insider said this was not a change in policy and that the United States would continue to support the Israeli offensive.


“We want this to be the last war, and we realize that for that to happen, Hamas cannot be the ruling authority,” the senior official said. “They have to be out of power, because if Hamas is in power, you will most likely have another conflict.”


According to the Gaza Information Office, the Israeli attack has killed more than 15,000 Palestinians so far, including more than 6,000 children and 4,000 women. It is expected that expanding operations in the south will lead to more civilian casualties due to the overcrowding of displaced Palestinian citizens in these areas.

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Washington will not impose conditions on military aid to Israel