Image Credits : France 24
Tensions between U.S. and Israeli officials have escalated as the White House condemned recent remarks by Israel’s far-right Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, who criticized a proposed ceasefire agreement in Gaza. Smotrich’s comments, made on the social media platform X, dismissed the ceasefire negotiations as a “trap,” arguing that such a deal would allow Hamas to regroup and continue its attacks on Israelis. He suggested that ending the conflict now would only lead to further violence in the future.
In response, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby strongly rebuked Smotrich’s statements, calling them “outrageous” and “absurd.” Kirby underscored that anyone familiar with President Joe Biden’s unwavering support for Israel should be “ashamed for thinking anything different.” He further stressed that Israel had already achieved nearly all of its major military objectives in Gaza, apart from the goal of securing the release of hostages.
Kirby reiterated that President Biden is committed to pursuing the ceasefire agreement and would not allow “extremists” in Israel to derail the negotiations. Despite the rising tensions, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that Israel will dispatch a delegation to restart talks, which are anticipated to occur in either Cairo or Doha.
The ceasefire negotiations, backed by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt, have garnered international support. The UAE quickly endorsed the joint statement, with UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed expressing hope that the parties involved would not delay the ceasefire further.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of approximately 39,700 Palestinians, according to local authorities. Meanwhile, Israel continues to seek the release of around 115 hostages still held by Hamas.
Smotrich’s comments also included criticism of the detainee exchange process, drawing a comparison between Israeli abductees and “terrorists.” Kirby countered this by pointing to a recent East-West prisoner swap between the U.S. and Russia, emphasizing that countries that value the lives of their citizens sometimes engage in such exchanges to save innocent lives.
Earlier this year, Israel agreed to a U.S.-proposed detainee-hostage exchange, which involved the release of about 700 Palestinians in return for 40 Israeli hostages held by Hamas. The White House remains determined to move forward with the ceasefire deal, stressing that achieving it lies with “both sides.”
As the region braces for potential Iranian retaliation following the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, tensions between Israel and the Biden administration persist. Despite setting “red lines” and temporarily halting some arms shipments, the U.S. has continued to provide Israel with significant military aid throughout the conflict in Gaza.