As the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas escalates into what could become the Fifth Middle East War, Israel has declared its readiness for a prolonged conflict. With the Israeli ground forces preparing to enter the Gaza Strip, international attention is focused on whether U.S. President Joe Biden will visit Israel to prevent the conflict from spreading to the Arab world.
According to Bloomberg and other sources on the 16th (local time), Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and warned that "the war with Hamas will be very long and costly," signaling the likelihood of a protracted war. He added, "Israel is preparing for a long and expensive war, but ultimately Israel will prevail."
Even if Israeli ground forces invade the Gaza Strip, it will be difficult to track and target Hamas operatives ambushed in the vast underground tunnels, making a prolonged conflict inevitable. Professor Daphne Lechemon-Barak, an underground warfare expert at Reichman University in Israel, said, "Dealing with tunnels is always difficult. This is true in any situation, but it becomes even more complicated in urban areas."
The Times of Israel reported growing concerns that Hamas, cornered in a dead-end situation, is using hostages as human shields to threaten Israel, raising fears of a humanitarian catastrophe. Earlier, Israel condemned Hamas for hiding in tunnels beneath buildings and homes in Gaza City, where innocent civilians live, effectively using Gaza residents as human shields.
Secretary Blinken was dispatched to Israel on the 12th, the fifth day of the war that began with Hamas's attack on Israel. After meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he toured Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and other countries before returning to Israel that day. Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that Blinken discussed the results of his recent Middle East tour and received updates on the situation on the ground from Netanyahu, whom he met again in Tel Aviv after four days.
The U.S. political media outlet The Hill reported, "Secretary Blinken's trip reaffirmed U.S. support for Israel, emphasized humanitarian aid for civilians in the Gaza Strip, and focused on discussing ways to expedite the release of 200 hostages held by Hamas."
Foreign media have noted that this event occurred as both the U.S. and Israel are considering a visit by President Biden to Israel. One foreign outlet mentioned, "President Biden's visit to Israel could influence the changing wartime situation between Israel and Palestine and also benefit the domestic situation ahead of the presidential election," while pointing out that "there are significant risks in terms of security and political circumstances."
Kirsten Fontenrose, a security analyst at the U.S. think tank Atlantic Council, said, "President Biden needs to meet directly with Netanyahu to convey that Israel's land and sea offensive against the Gaza Strip could lead to a prolonged Israel-Palestine conflict and cause civilian casualties, potentially jeopardizing America's international standing."
If the Israeli ground forces enter the Gaza Strip and a Palestinian catastrophe unfolds, it could provoke the Arab world and lead to the involvement of Iran, Lebanon, Syria, and other Arab countries.
Speculation has arisen that President Biden's sudden postponement of his planned visit to Colorado on the 16th to hold a National Security Council meeting, along with Secretary Blinken's return to Israel after four days, may be related to a possible visit by Biden to Israel.
Earlier, in an interview with the U.S. CBS program "60 Minutes," President Biden was asked whether he would support Israel's occupation of the Gaza Strip at this time. He responded, "I think that would be a big mistake." This statement is interpreted as a warning not only against escalation due to Iranian involvement but also against escalation caused by Israel's "excessive retaliation."
If President Biden visits Israel this time, one foreign media outlet noted the possibility that he might also meet with Mahmoud Abbas, the head of the Palestinian Authority (PA), which governs the West Bank.
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