It could have been much worse. And lots of people — Bernie Sanders, Ilhan Omar, Tom Friedman, the members of the editorial board of The New York Times — were hoping for a much stronger statement from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin of the Bidenites’ displeasure with Israel. They are undoubtedly disappointed in the meeting Austin just held with Israeli Defense Secretary Yoav Gallant. A report on their meeting can be found here: “Dec. 18: US defense chief tells Israel to plan for ‘transitioning to next phase’ of Gaza war,” Times of Israel, December 18, 2023:
Wrapping up his press conference with Defense Minister Gallant, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is asked if the US pressure on Israel to reduce civilian casualties in Gaza could spell reduced air bombardments and other shifts in the fighting that might cause greater loss of life among Israeli soldiers.
Regarding “the nature of the strikes and the amount of collateral damage,” Austin stresses in response, “the protection of our troops is important to all of us” — to Israel and the US.
He says Gaza is a complex battle space, with a dense population, and “that makes it very very difficult to conduct any military operation.”
Also, he notes, Hamas routinely uses civilians as shields, and fights from “near hospitals, mosques, churches, you name it. That adds to the complexity.”
“It requires a very professional force and that force has to learn each step of the way,” he says.
He and Gallant today “discussed techniques that they [the IDF] are changing as they conduct operations in the south. All of us learn… They were a very professional force going into this… Taking lessons learned in the north, they’ve applied some of those lessons in the south, and I’m sure that’ll continue.”
Austin noted all the right things. In answer to a question about whether lessening the number of airstrikes could lead to a rise in the deaths of IDF soldiers, he said that of course “protection of the troops” is paramount, both for Israel and the US. He recognized that Gaza was “a very complex battle space,” that it was “densely populated” and that Hamas used the Gazans as “human shields.” He noted that Hamas places its forces “near hospitals, mosques, churches, you name it. That adds to the complexity.” He clearly was sympathetic to the IDF in carrying out its its hellishly difficult task of rooting out such a malign enemy under such difficult conditions. He understood the inevitability of collateral damage and Austin at no time suggested that Israel was not doing all it could to minimize civilian deaths. Austin made no mention of the Hamas-generated numbers that the media mindlessly report. He praised the IDF’s “professionalism.” Austin did not raise the matter of a “ceasefire.” Yoav Gallant was clearly pleased with the meeting.
Gallant says Israel and the US are having “transparent and frank discussions” on the conduct of the war. “We share everything,” he says warmly of Austin.
Gallant touts the IDF’s “meaningful” successes on the battlefield, but says “eliminating the Hamas leadership is an ongoing goal that will be achieved — hopefully soon, but it will be achieved.”
Gallant continued to insist that though important successes against Hamas had been made, there was more to do, and that the original goal remained — the eradication of Hamas as a military force. He made clear that the IDF would continue until that goal was achieved. That was an oblique answer to the latest demand from the U.K., Germany, and France, calling for a “sustainable ceasefire.
He [Gallant] says the IDF “will continue to operate on different levels of intensity according to the situation in the region.”
“Soon we will be able to distinguish between different areas in Gaza,” says Gallant, and “in every area where we achieve our mission, we will be able to transition gradually to the next phase and start working on bringing back local population” — probably starting first in the north….
This goes without saying: in whatever area of Gaza where the IDF has completed its mission, it will no longer have to fight with the same intensity, but can “transition gradually to the next phase,” and that”next phase” includes urging Gazans from those areas to return home.
Mark says
Biden administration is supporting both Israel and Hamas , it is American Weapon Industry that makes more money in that immoral way . Israel is only good marketing people for American Weapon industry . Only marketing puppets for American Weapon Industry . This is way to finance Limousine leftist leaders .
James Lincoln says
It’s analogous to being a bookie, Mark.
No matter which side wins the bet, the bookie gets paid.