Israel to invade Gaza after Biden leaves - Der Spiegel

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Tue, 17 Oct 2023 11:47 UTC

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US President Joe Biden • Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu • Statements to the press

The US president condemned Hamas's "brutal terrorist attack" as he announced a Wednesday wartime trip to Israel...

An Israeli ground offensive in Gaza will likely only take place after US President Joe Biden concludes his visit to the country, news website Der Spiegel reported on Tuesday.

The German outlet cited anonymous sources as suggesting that there are "increasing signs" that any plans to invade the Palestinian enclave will be "almost impossible" while Biden is in Israel.

The Spiegel report comes hours after the White House confirmed that Biden was to travel to Israel and Jordan on Wednesday as part of Washington's efforts to demonstrate its support for Israel in its conflict with Hamas, while also easing humanitarian issues in war-torn Gaza.

The US has also expressed concerns about the situation spiraling into a wider conflict if other regional powers get involved.

Early on Tuesday, a post on X from Biden read:

"On Wednesday, I'll travel to Israel to stand in solidarity in the face of Hamas's brutal terrorist attack. I'll then travel to Jordan to address dire humanitarian needs, meet with leaders, and make clear that Hamas does not stand for Palestinians' rights to self-determination."

Israel has amassed thousands of troops on its border with Gaza for a widely expected ground operation in the enclave. The move is part of retaliatory measures against the Palestinian militant group Hamas, following its October 7 incursion into Israeli territory. About 1,400 Israelis, most of them civilians, were massacred by Hamas.

Israel's armed forces have conducted an unprecedented bombing campaign on the enclave in the days that followed. The Israeli Air Force stated that it dropped more than 6,000 bombs on Gaza in the first six days of the conflict. Reports indicate that more than 2,800 people have died in the air strikes, while the United Nations (UN) has said that at least one million people have been displaced.

The UN has also warned that the situation in Gaza could deteriorate into a severe humanitarian crisis.

Referencing Biden's visit to the Middle East early on Tuesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said it would demonstrate Washington's "solidarity with Israel" and represent an "ironclad commitment to its security."

Comment: Separate plans are also in place for a potential "support" mission in the Jewish State:

The Pentagon has sent 2,000 Marines and sailors to waters off Israel's coast as part of a "show of force" in the region, CNN has reported, citing unnamed US officials. The move comes amid fighting between Israel and Palestinian militants, which has claimed thousands of lives this month.

Led by the elite 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, the "rapid response force" is headed toward Israel on board the USS Bataan, an amphibious assault ship previously stationed in the Gulf of Oman, officials told the outlet on Monday. They did not specify the unit's exact destination, or say if it would join two US carrier strike groups presently in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The naval deployments are reportedly meant to "send a message of deterrence to Iran and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah," and some of the US warships have recently patrolled waters near the Islamic Republic.

Separately, on Sunday Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered another 2,000 troops to gear up for a potential "medical and logistical support" mission in Israel, according to multiple news agencies.

However, Pentagon staffers stressed that the order does not guarantee direct US involvement in the conflict with the Gaza-based militant group Hamas, noting that the White House "does not want to give the impression that American troops could become embroiled in a hot war."

The Wall Street Journal, which first reported on the preparations, also stated that the troops would be tasked with "advising and medical support" and "aren't intended to serve in a combat role."

The 2,000 soldiers are now stationed across a wide area, including in the Middle East and Europe, but have been placed on notice to deploy within 24 hours if needed. Though officials said the move would be aimed at "forestalling a wider regional war," the planning comes as some US lawmakers push for direct military action in the Middle East.

Biden needs the Jewish vote. Is he willing to provoke WWIII to get it?