Tel Aviv:
While Israel intensified his offensive in Gaza to take “total control” of the Palestinian territory, some of the closest allies, including the United States, are in danger of withdrawing their support from Jerusalem against massive hunger in the enclave. The Trump government has warned the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the failure of Israel to conclude the war in Gaza would lead to a withdrawal of American support, according to a report from the Washington Post.
The newspaper quoted an anonymous source that is familiar with the discussions, reported that Trump's representatives have informed Israel that the US will “leave” the country if it does not end the war.
“The people of Trump let Israel know:” We will abandon you if you don't end this war, “said the source.
Press Secretary of the White House, Caroline Leavitt, also said that “the president wants the war in Gaza to end”, after last week's surprise of the Israeli soldier Edan Alexander, who was protected by direct American negotiations without the involvement of Israel.
The report on the pressure behind the scenes of the Trump government followed a very public exclusion of Netanyahu during the visit of the US President Donald Trump Midden-East last week. During his tour, where he met leaders of Arab countries, including Saudi Aarabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, Trump said “many people starve in Gaza.
“People hunger. There are terrible things happen there,” Trump said, adding that during a phone call with Netanyahu in April he asked to allow more food and medicines in the enclave. “Gaza came up and I said we should be good for Gaza. People there suffer.”
Pressure confirmations from other allies
The leaders of Great -Britain, France and Canada also condemned the “gross actions” of Israel in Gaza on Monday and warned of joint action if it did not put an increased military offensive in the Palestinian territory.
Starmer, Macron and Carney hit Israëls blocking of help and comments from ministers in the government of Netanyahu who have threatened the mass relocation of Palestinians.
“We will not be over, while the Netanyahu government pursues this gross actions. If Israel does not end the renewed military offensive and increases the limitations on humanitarian aid, we will also undertake concrete actions,” said the leaders.
They did not say what action could be taken, but added: “We are committed to recognizing a Palestinian state as a contribution to achieving a two -state solution and are willing to work with others.”
Netanyahu's U-turn
Netanyahu seemed to be responding to the increasing pressure and said on Monday that he would be willing to end the conflict “if the remaining hostages are released, Hamas puts down his arms, his murderous leaders are banned and Gaza is being demilitated.”
He also said that it was necessary for Israel to prevent a famine in Gaza for “diplomatic reasons,” after his government had announced that the limited food aid in the field would allow. “We should not let the population (from Gaza) sink in famine, both for practical and diplomatic reasons,” said Netanyahu in a video placed on his telegram channel, adding that even “friends of Israel” would not tolerate “images of mass hunger”.
This was the first time that Israel publicly recognized the threat of hunger in Gaza, despite repeated warnings of global hunger experts. Israel has said that since 2 March his blockade had been aimed at forcing concessions from the Palestinian group.
'US Official Deny Report'
Israeli media have prevented the Washington Post report, with a quote from an American officer who reportedly said that there might be a disagreement between Washington and Jerusalem, but “the idea that we would leave Israel is ridiculous.”
In conversation with times of Israel, the American officer also denied reporting that the Israel's agreement to allow a small amount of help in Gaza on Monday after a blockage of 78 days was part of a secret deal with Hamas in which the terror group had released the American-Israeli hostageman Edan Alexander last week.
“This was a goodwill gesture. The release was unconditional,” the American officer told The Times of Israel.
The American ambassador in Israel, Mike Huckabee, reportedly also rejected the Washington Post report. “Their reporting is nonsense. They have to listen to what the president says -not what some not -inspired 'source' pretends he knows,” he told Ynet news site.
