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25-10-2023
WASHINGTON/ GAZA: The United States has rejected calls for a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict, warning that it would benefit Hamas, and give them an opportunity to regroup.
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller stated that a ceasefire would provide Hamas with an opportunity to regroup and continue launching terrorist attacks on Israel.
He emphasized the challenging security situation faced by Israel due to ongoing attacks from Hamas, making a ceasefire difficult to accept.
Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) is considering a humanitarian pause in the conflict to allow for the delivery of aid to the affected areas.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell expressed his expectation that EU leaders would support this humanitarian pause to provide relief for displaced individuals and enable the delivery of essential humanitarian assistance.
Furthermore, the White House has said that it is closely monitoring an increase in rocket and drone attacks on US military bases in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-backed proxy groups.
White House spokesman John Kirby announced that President Biden has directed the Department of Defense to prepare for future strikes and respond as necessary. This surge in attacks has raised significant concerns about the potential for further escalation in the coming days.
In response to the heightened threat, President Biden has deployed additional naval assets to the Middle East over the last two weeks. This includes two aircraft carriers, other warships, and approximately 2,000 Marines. The attacks on US forces have become more frequent since the outbreak of the conflict in Israel on October 7, initiated by an assault on southern Israel by Hamas.
Iran’s involvement in these attacks is of particular concern. The US government is aware of Iran’s attempt to maintain plausible deniability, but officials are determined not to allow threats to US interests in the region to go unchallenged. The situation remains fluid, and the US is actively monitoring and preparing for potential developments.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces continue to bombard the Gaza Strip with airstrikes while also engaging in ground skirmishes with Hamas, with over 436 people killed in Israeli aerial attacks.
Most of the casualties occurred in the densely populated southern region of Gaza, with the conflict expanding beyond Gaza, with Israeli aircraft conducting strikes in southern Lebanon.
Additionally, Israeli troops clashed with Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. (Int’l Monitoring Desk)
