US, Israel Show Signs of Diverging Interests in Hamas Conflict; Hostage Talks Fail as Gaza Sees Desperate Civilians Evacuating
US diplomacy at odds with Israel's military campaign as civilian death toll soars, Israel continues invasion and refuses broader ceasefire, and USAID staff call for an immediate ceasefire; Critics argue humanitarian aid is futile without ceasefire, while Israel insists on hostage release for maintaining pauses in airstrikes.
- The US and Israel have diverged on their views of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, with American diplomacy at odds with Israel's refusal of a broader ceasefire. US National Security Council spokesperson, John Kirby, highlighted that the US is in constant touch with its Israeli counterparts regarding temporary, localized pauses in the fighting to allow aid and assistance in, and to get hostages out.
- As Israel's invasion of Gaza advanced, tens of thousands of desperate civilians fled the northern Gaza Strip. Israel reported that its troops had pushed into the densely populated Hamas stronghold of Gaza City, while Hamas claims Israel has continued strikes against civilian infrastructure including hospitals and refugee camps.
- Despite pressure from within, President Biden has continued to reject calls for a ceasefire. While Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said that Gaza should be unified with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority once the war is over, the lack of specific details on how this might be implemented has provoked skepticism.
- USAID employees have called for an immediate ceasefire, decrying the mounting civilian death toll in Gaza and criticizing the U.S. government's support for Israel's military offensive. The letter, signed by over 1,000 staff members, calls for the unimpeded delivery of food, water, medicine, and fuel.
- Hamas and Israel almost reached a deal to release up to 50 hostages. However, the deal collapsed due to logistical issues and a lack of trust from both sides. It has been speculated that another round of negotiations may be necessary, possibly involving an exchange of hundreds of Palestinian women and minors currently held without charge in Israeli prisons.
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