The United States has engaged in back-channel discussions with Iran in an effort to prevent the conflict between Israel and Hamas from escalating into a wider regional war, confirmed President Joe Biden’s top security advisor. Speaking on CBS’s Face The Nation, national security advisor Jake Sullivan stated that the US has been privately communicating with Iran to convey the same message that it has publicly expressed. Western and Arab diplomats are concerned that the ongoing war could pull in other militant groups backed by Iran, such as Hizbollah from Lebanon. The US has dispatched a second aircraft carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean as Israel prepares for a potential ground offensive against Gaza.
Israel has closed a portion of its northern border with Lebanon and is imposing restrictions on the use of GPS in combat zones. While there have been exchanges of artillery fire along the border, both sides seem to be attempting to contain hostilities. Israel is also evacuating residents from Sderot, a city near the Gaza border. The US has already sent one carrier strike group to the region, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the deployment of another carrier group to deter hostile actions against Israel. Israel has plans for a range of operational offensives and is emphasizing its readiness for potential ground operations.
Sullivan emphasized the importance of Israel embracing the rule of law and international humanitarian norms. The Biden administration is focused on the safety and security of civilians in Gaza. Israel has imposed a blockade on Gaza, cutting off essential supplies and ordering Palestinians to relocate from the north to the south of the enclave. Water supplies have partially resumed following an agreement between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Biden. The US and other Western countries have expressed strong support for Israel’s right to defend itself, but have also called for the protection of civilians.
Hamas’s attack on Israel was the deadliest in the country’s history, resulting in the deaths of over 1,400 people, primarily civilians. In response, Israel has conducted numerous airstrikes and artillery attacks in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of at least 2,329 Palestinians, including women and children. Hamas is said to have seized over 120 hostages, including US and European nationals. Negotiations are underway between Qatar, which hosts Hamas’s political office, and the US for the release of these civilian hostages. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is due to return to Israel, and Israel is expected to launch a major ground offensive to eliminate Hamas’s control of Gaza.
Efforts are underway to evacuate international civilians from both Israel and Gaza. The US embassy in Israel is sending a ship to Haifa to evacuate US nationals. Western nations are working to secure safe passage for their citizens in Gaza through the Rafah crossing with Egypt. Aid agencies have warned of a looming humanitarian crisis, but Egypt has resisted opening its borders and instead wants humanitarian aid to be delivered to people inside Gaza. Egypt’s president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, has stated that the only solution to the Palestinian cause is a two-state solution and that forced displacement is not a viable option.
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