(JNS) The Biden administration is advising Israel to delay its ground invasion of the Gaza Strip, The New York Times reported on Sunday.
US officials told the newspaper that the White House wants more time to negotiate the release of hostages held by Hamas and to allow for more humanitarian aid into the Palestinian coastal enclave.
According to the Israelis, Hamas is holding 212 Israelis in Gaza whom they captured during the October 7 assault on southern Israeli communities. The terrorist group murdered at least 1,400 people and wounded over 5,100 in the attack.
The Americans also reportedly want more time to prepare their forces for attacks on U.S. interests in the region by Iran-backed terrorist groups that could follow an Israeli ground invasion of Gaza.
However, the officials said that the US isn't demanding a postponement and still supports Israel's ground invasion and goal of eradicating Hamas in Gaza.
Two US officials said that the advice to hold off on the invasion was being conveyed by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant.
However, a diplomat at the Israeli Embassy in Washington denied the report, telling the New York Times that the United States was not advising Israel to delay the ground invasion.
“We have a close dialogue and consultations with the US administration. The US is not pressing Israel in regards to the ground operation," the source said.
US President Joe Biden also held another phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday.
"The President welcomed the first two convoys of humanitarian assistance since Hamas’s October 7 terrorist attack, which crossed the border into Gaza and is being distributed to Palestinians in need. The leaders affirmed that there will now be continued flow of this critical assistance into Gaza," according to the White House.
"The President expressed appreciation for Israel’s support in helping to accommodate the release of two American hostages. The leaders discussed ongoing efforts to secure the release of all the remaining hostages taken by Hamas—including U.S. citizens—and to provide for safe passage for U.S. citizens and other civilians in Gaza who wish to depart."
The IDF said on Monday that over the past 24 hours, it had struck more than 320 military targets in the Gaza Strip, including "tunnels containing Hamas terrorists, dozens of operational command centers, some of which concealed Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists, military compounds and observation posts."
