White House in ‘intensive’ talks with Israel on next phase of Gaza conflict: Sullivan

Washington is pushing Israel to focus the conflict in Gaza on precise targeting of Hamas leaders rather than widespread bombing and ground operations, the White House national security adviser said on Friday, without saying when the shift would happen.

Israel has so far resisted increasing global pressure to rein in an offensive that has killed almost 19,000 Palestinians since the Hamas assault that killed around 1,200 people in southern Israel on Oct. 7.

“There will be a transition to another phase of this war, one that is focused in more precise ways on targeting the leadership and on intelligence driven operations,” the adviser, Jake Sullivan, told reporters during a visit to Israel.

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Israel’s top targets include Mohammed Deif, who heads Hamas’ military wing and was the mastermind of the Oct. 7 assault; his second in command, Marwan Issa; and Hamas’ leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar.

Sullivan said he had discussed the timing of such a transition in his meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the war cabinet and military chiefs on Thursday.

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“When exactly that happens and under exactly what conditions will be a continuing intensive discussion between the United States and Israel,” he said.

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After the meetings, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said he told Sullivan the conflict would last “more than several months.”

Behind closed doors, the White House has been pushing for a faster end to the high intensity phase of the conflict, U.S. officials have said.

U.S. President Joe Biden warned this week that international opinion was swinging against Israel because of high civilian casualties in Gaza.

Sullivan declined to answer when asked whether the United States could hold back military aid if the conflict does not enter a lower intensity phase with fewer civilian casualties, saying the best way to reach an agreement was in private discussions.

Sullivan said the U.S. wanted “to see the results” that match Israel’s assurances that it distinguishes between civilians and militants. He criticized Hamas for using civilians as shields, saying fighters were operating from schools and hospitals, a charge the group denies.

He is due to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas later on Friday.