Israel bombards Gaza Strip despite US worries about casualties — warns war will last ‘more than several months’
NY Post
Israel pounded the length of the Gaza Strip on Thursday even after US officials warned about rising civilian casualties, with the IDF warning America that the war against Hamas will carry on into 2024.
“It will require a long period of time – it will last more than several months — but we will win and we will destroy them,” Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.
With the war spanning more than two months and resulting in the death of more than 19,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, the Jewish State has seen backlash over the continued airstrike operations across the entire territory.
“I want them to be focused on how to save civilian lives. Not stop going after Hamas, but be more careful,” President Biden told reporters Thursday.
Biden, who defended America’s support of the IDF and rejection of a UN-led truce agreement, had previously described Israel’s bombardments as “indiscriminate,” which US officials have been quick to try and walk back.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby went as far as to tell reporters Wednesday that Israel’s airstrike campaign was more thorough than anything the US would have done in its place in terms of avoiding civilian casualties.
