From the Liveblog of
Monday, October 23, 2023
White House: Israel will decide on Gaza strategy, we’re just asking questions
Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby says Israel’s political and military leaders are the ones who will decide how to operate their military campaign in Gaza.
The White House spokesperson also says he is hopeful an additional convoy of humanitarian aid will enter Gaza from Egypt in the coming hours, which would be the fourth such shipment in three days.
The remarks follow reports — including from The Times of Israel — that the Biden administration has been privately urging Israel to hold off on launching a ground incursion in order to give more time for hostage negotiations.
A senior diplomatic official has told The Times of Israel that the US will refrain from publicly pressuring Israel on its military strategy, while taking a nuanced approach behind closed doors.
Kirby tells reporters in a briefing that the US will continue asking Israel questions in order to better understand its military strategy.
He says US military aid for the IDF has been landing in Israel on a near daily basis and that the US has taken additional steps aimed at discouraging other actors from joining the war.
The Times of Israel Community.