US not planning to put ‘boots on ground’ in Israel’s war against Hamas — White House

By Jacob Magid

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10 October 2023, 2:17 am

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Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief

Illustrative: IDF and American troops unload a US Air Force cargo plane at an Israeli military base during the Juniper Falcon joint military exercise, February 2019. (US Army photo)

“There is no intention to put US boots on the ground,” White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby tells reporters after being asked during a briefing about a scenario in which the US could join Israel’s war against Hamas.

“If we need — and it’s an IF — but if we need to go back to Capitol Hill for additional funding support for Israel, we will absolutely do that,” Kirby says.

The spokesperson says the White House cannot confirm definitively that Hamas is holding Americans hostage after US President Joe Biden said earlier this evening that Americans are “likely” among the hostages.

“We have to accept [this] grim possibility… so we’re going to keep at this,” Kirby says.