Israel should give diplomatic talks ‘time to succeed’: Pentagon chief
In a phone call with his embattled Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has reiterated Washington’s “ironclad commitment to Israel’s security”, the US Pentagon says.
Austin also suggested that Israel should not escalate the conflict with Hezbollah, according to the US statement describing the call, which took place on Sunday.
“Secretary Austin also reaffirmed the necessity of a ceasefire and hostage deal, and that Israel should give diplomatic negotiations time to succeed, noting the devastating consequences that escalation would have on the people of Israel, Lebanon, and the broader region,” the Pentagon said today.
The United States is still working with mediators Egypt and Qatar to present a revised proposal for a ceasefire in the Israeli war on Gaza, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller has said.
Miller told reporters he does not have a timetable for the proposal, which has been expected for several weeks, but he said that Washington wanted to make sure that the plan can get Israel and Hamas to an ultimate agreement.
US does nothing but stall for time to ... finish the genocide?
Hamas official says US failing to pressure Israel in ceasefire talks
Ghazi Hamad says the US is merely repeating “the same failed experience” with its recent push for a new Gaza ceasefire proposal.
In an interview with Al Jazeera Mubasher, Hamad said Washington’s “bias” in favour of Israel and its inability to understand the Palestinian perspective, has continuously pushed it to be “on the wrong side of history”.
Hamad said the group believes the US is not pressuring Israel enough to reach a deal, which has always led to a “dead-end”.
He said Hamas has worked with “flexibility” in its indirect negotiations, but that Netanyahu’s government has been obstructing any progress in talks.
Netanyahu to US envoy: Israel will ‘do what is necessary’ for its security
The Israeli prime minister has told US envoy Amos Hochstein that there needs to be a “fundamental change” at the Lebanese border to allow evacuated residents of northern Israel to return to their homes, according to PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
The US and other Western allies of Israel have warned the Netanyahu government against a major escalation with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
In an apparent response to these warnings, Netanyahu’s office said the prime minister told Hochstein that “while Israel appreciates and respects the support of the US, it will – ultimately – do what is necessary to safeguard its security”
