The White House on Tuesday reiterated that President Joe Biden does not support an Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip once the war ends. Asked about Netanyahu’s comments, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said he would leave it to Netanyahu to clarify what he means by having “indefinite” control of Gaza’s security.
Quick Read
- White House Statement: The Biden administration does not support Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip post-conflict, as stated by National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.
- Israeli Position Clarification: Kirby deferred to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu for clarification on comments about “indefinite” control over Gaza’s security.
- Biden’s Past Remarks: President Biden has previously stated that occupying Gaza would be a mistake for Israel.
- Hamas’s Claims: Hamas spokesman Ghazi Hamad, from Beirut, denied Israeli military advances in Gaza City, claimed Israeli losses, and reiterated resistance against occupation.
- Israeli Military Operation: The Israeli military announced that its ground forces are engaged in combat within Gaza City, marking a significant escalation in the conflict.
- Target: The operation is reportedly aimed at Hamas’ headquarters and strongholds within the city.
- Military Spokesperson’s Statement: Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari confirmed that the ground forces are putting considerable pressure on Hamas through their current operations.
- Israeli Prime Minister’s Remarks: Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the military campaign has been successful, claiming the deaths of thousands of Hamas fighters.
- Medical Evacuations: A dozen Palestinian children with cancer were permitted to cross into Egypt from Gaza for treatment.
- Red Cross Convoy Attacked: Two ICRC trucks came under fire in Gaza, resulting in damage to the vehicles and a lightly wounded driver.
- Maternal Health Crisis: The UN reports about 50,000 pregnant women in Gaza lack access to routine maternal healthcare, and there is an urgent need for medical supplies and a humanitarian ceasefire.
- Doctors Without Borders Tragedy: Mohammed Al Ahel, a laboratory technician for Doctors Without Borders, and several family members were killed in a bombing at the Shati refugee camp.
The Associated Press has the story:
White House says it doesn’t support Israel re-occupying Gaza after war
Newslooks- WASHINGTON (AP)
The White House on Tuesday reiterated that President Joe Biden does not support an Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip once the war ends.
Asked about Netanyahu’s comments, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said he would leave it to Netanyahu to clarify what he means by having “indefinite” control of Gaza’s security.
“There needs to be a healthy set of conversations about what post conflict Gaza looks like and what governance looks like,” Kirby told reporters. “What we absolutely agree with our Israeli counterparts on is what it can’t look like, and it can’t look like it looked on October 6.”
Biden previously said it would be a “mistake” for Israel to occupy Gaza.
HAMAS DENIES ISRAEL IS MAKING BIG MILITARY GAINS IN GAZA CITY
BEIRUT — Hamas spokesman Ghazi Hamad, speaking on Tuesday from Beirut, denied that Israeli forces were making any significant military gains or that they had advanced deep into Gaza City.
“They never give the people the truth,” Hamad said. He added that numerous Israeli soldiers were killed on Monday and “many tanks were destroyed.”
“The Palestinians fight and fight and fight against Israel, until we end the occupation,” said Hamad, who left Gaza days before the attack.
Israel’s military says it has killed thousands of Hamas fighters in the monthlong war. The Associated Press could not independently verify the claims of either side.
ISRAELI MILITARY SAYS ITS GROUND FORCES ARE BATTLING ‘IN THE DEPTHS’ OF GAZA CITY
JERUSALEM — The Israeli military said Tuesday that its ground forces are now fighting in “the depths” of Gaza City.
The comments signaled a new stage by the Israeli military as it moves in toward what it says is the headquarters and stronghold of the Hamas militant group.
Speaking to reporters, the chief military spokesperson, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said that Israeli ground forces “are located right now in a ground operation in the depths of Gaza City and putting great pressure on Hamas.”
Earlier, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Israel was making great progress in its war, saying that the army has killed thousands of Hamas fighters.
SMALL GROUP OF GAZA KIDS WITH CANCER CROSS INTO EGYPT FOR TREATMENT
CAIRO — A dozen Palestinian children in Gaza who have cancer were allowed to cross the Rafah border on Tuesday for treatment in Egypt.
According to Egypt’s Health Ministry, the 12 children were transferred to specialized cancer hospitals. Authorities did not say whether the children traveled alone or if any family members or guardians were allowed to accompany them.
RED CROSS SAYS 2 AID TRUCKS CAME UNDER FIRE IN GAZA
CAIRO — The International Committee of the Red Cross said two of its trucks were damaged when a convoy of its vehicles in Gaza came under fire on Tuesday.
The ICRC vehicles were hit as they were transporting vital medical supplies to hospitals and health facilities in the besieged enclave, the aid group said. A driver was lightly wounded.
“These are not the conditions under which humanitarian personnel can work,” said William Schomburg, the head of the ICRC sub-delegation in Gaza. Officials did not provide further details on the trucks’ location inside Gaza.
THOUSANDS OF GAZA’S PREGNANT WOMEN AND NEW MOTHERS IN DIRE CONDITIONS, UN SAYS
UNITED NATIONS – The figures are staggering: 50,000 pregnant women in Gaza are unable to access routine maternal health care, 180 women are giving birth there every day, and 5,500 babies have been born since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.
Dr. Natalia Kanem, head of the U.N. agency that promotes reproductive and sexual health, gave those figures at a U.N. press conference Tuesday where she issued an urgent appeal for fuel for hospitals and incubators, clean water and food for pregnant and lactating women, and for a humanitarian cease-fire.
Kanem said the U.N. has no figures on the number of new mothers or newborns who’ve died since the war began. But she said, “we have seen losses of life” of newborns in hospitals who need incubators and oxygen which require fuel, adding that being in a hospital is essential for Caesarean section deliveries.
While two truckloads of health and delivery kits and medication have arrived in Gaza, “it’s a drop in the bucket” compared to the needs, said Kanem, the executive director of the U.N. Population Fund.
Pregnant women need double the amount of fluid than non-pregnant women, “and if you’re a lactating mother, it’s triple” – and “brackish water is not a solution,” she added.R
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS TEAM MEMBER KILLED IN STRIKE ON REFUGEE CAMP
NEW YORK — Doctors Without Borders reported the death of Mohammed Al Ahel, a laboratory technician for the organization in Gaza, on Nov. 6, during a bombing in the Shati refugee camp. Several members of his family also died in the bombing.
The international charity said Al Ahel had worked with them for more than two years and was at his home when the area was bombed and his building collapsed.
“Our repeated calls for an immediate ceasefire have gone unanswered,” the charity said in a statement Tuesday. “But we insist that a ceasefire is the only way to prevent more senseless deaths across Gaza and allow adequate humanitarian aid into the Strip.”
