US President Joe Biden and his administration is asking Israel to delay the ground invasion of Gaza in order to buy time for more hostage negotiations.
The release of two American women held captive by Hamas late last week have spurred efforts to more urgently negotiate the fate of more than 200 other hostages.
Reports says that talks to release about 50 more foreign and dual national civilians had entered a serious stage.
There is strong and growing concern that a punishing Israeli ground invasion of Gaza will trigger a wider war.
The Israelis are denying the reports that they’ve been asked to delay it, but it’s clear the Americans are advising them, if not dictating demands.
Nevertheless, already Israel has carried out unprecedented air strikes on Gaza, with thousands of civilian casualties and there’s little doubt it will eventually launch a ground operation, since that is the only way to achieve its goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and infrastructure, which the US supports.
Source: BBC
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