NYT Reports: US Believes Israel Cannot Eliminate Hamas
US officials are advocating for Israel to reach a ceasefire with Hamas, arguing that continuing military action will yield no positive outcomes, as reported by the NYT. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
According to a report by The New York Times on Wednesday, citing sources within the administration, US officials are skeptical about Israel achieving its main objectives in Gaza by continuing its military operations against Hamas.
The Biden administration has been actively encouraging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a ceasefire. This proposed peace agreement would involve the release of hostages taken by Palestinian militants during their attack last October.
Despite this push, Netanyahu faces significant opposition within his own government from hardline right-wing cabinet members, who advocate for a continuation of the conflict. These sentiments arise from Israel's stated goal of dismantling Hamas following the group's incursion in October.
The New York Times includes insights from “a growing number of national security officials across the [US] government,” who believe that despite Israel's efforts to weaken Hamas, it is improbable that the group can be completely eradicated. These officials also note that continuing the conflict will not facilitate the recovery of “the roughly 115 living and dead hostages” that are still controlled by Palestinian forces.
This week, a team of high-ranking US officials, including CIA Director William Burns, Middle East coordinator Brett McGurk, and senior White House advisor Amos Hochstein, is visiting the Middle East to discuss these perspectives with local leaders. There is a general consensus among US analysts that the Israeli military strategy is only temporarily disrupting Hamas but not leading to a sustainable solution.
Tensions in the Israeli cabinet were highlighted earlier in the week when a disagreement surfaced between Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who reportedly dismissed the possibility of a "total victory" in Gaza. In response, Netanyahu's office criticized Gallant for not taking a harder line against Hamas.
The refusal to consider a ceasefire continues to be voiced by prominent figures within Netanyahu's cabinet. They suggest further intensifying the blockade on Gaza.
“If we cut off their fuel, within a week they would be on their knees. And if we stop the [aid] trucks, within two weeks they would be on their knees,” stated National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir in an interview earlier this week.
Meanwhile, the US remains a key military supporter of Israel, with the State Department recently notifying Congress of its approval for more than $20 billion in new arms sales to the country.
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
The Biden administration has been actively encouraging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a ceasefire. This proposed peace agreement would involve the release of hostages taken by Palestinian militants during their attack last October.
Despite this push, Netanyahu faces significant opposition within his own government from hardline right-wing cabinet members, who advocate for a continuation of the conflict. These sentiments arise from Israel's stated goal of dismantling Hamas following the group's incursion in October.
The New York Times includes insights from “a growing number of national security officials across the [US] government,” who believe that despite Israel's efforts to weaken Hamas, it is improbable that the group can be completely eradicated. These officials also note that continuing the conflict will not facilitate the recovery of “the roughly 115 living and dead hostages” that are still controlled by Palestinian forces.
This week, a team of high-ranking US officials, including CIA Director William Burns, Middle East coordinator Brett McGurk, and senior White House advisor Amos Hochstein, is visiting the Middle East to discuss these perspectives with local leaders. There is a general consensus among US analysts that the Israeli military strategy is only temporarily disrupting Hamas but not leading to a sustainable solution.
Tensions in the Israeli cabinet were highlighted earlier in the week when a disagreement surfaced between Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who reportedly dismissed the possibility of a "total victory" in Gaza. In response, Netanyahu's office criticized Gallant for not taking a harder line against Hamas.
The refusal to consider a ceasefire continues to be voiced by prominent figures within Netanyahu's cabinet. They suggest further intensifying the blockade on Gaza.
“If we cut off their fuel, within a week they would be on their knees. And if we stop the [aid] trucks, within two weeks they would be on their knees,” stated National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir in an interview earlier this week.
Meanwhile, the US remains a key military supporter of Israel, with the State Department recently notifying Congress of its approval for more than $20 billion in new arms sales to the country.
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
