U.S. Urges Israel to Prioritize Release of Hostages and Aid Distribution Before Ground Invasion of Gaza

The United States has reportedly been conveying a message to Israel to prioritize the release of hostages and the distribution of aid before launching a ground invasion of the Palestinian territory of Gaza. This was made clear on Sunday when U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that the Israelis have “absolutely no intent, no desire, to be running Gaza themselves.”

Aid has started to trickle across the Egyptian border into southern Gaza, but the Israeli government has said it doesn’t intend to occupy the Gaza Strip or permanently expel Palestinians. Israel said Monday that Hamas is still holding 222 people captive.

After the Holocaust, hundreds of thousands of Jews sought refuge in the newly created State of Israel for their own safety. Hours after a terrorist attack on October 7th, Knesset member Ariel Kallner posted a call on social media for another Nakba. Some far-right members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party support the idea of expelling Palestinians.

The U.S. has been working to ensure that the release of hostages and the distribution of aid are prioritized before a ground invasion of Gaza. The Israeli government has stated that it does not intend to occupy the Gaza Strip or permanently expel Palestinians. The U.S. is continuing to work with Israel to ensure that the situation is resolved peacefully.