Washington — John Kirby, the White House National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, said Sunday that Israel has communicated to the Biden administration that the sudden decision to withdraw troops from southern Gaza is primarily for "rest and refit."
Israel's military announced on Sunday that they now have only one division remaining in the Gaza Strip, as the other division departed in the past day. A spokesperson characterized the move as an evolution of the conflict, rather than a partial retreat. However, the rationale behind the decision has not been fully elucidated.
- Transcript: John Kirby, National Security Council spokesperson, on "Face the Nation," April 7, 2024
"The information we have received from them this morning indicates that this is primarily a period of rest and refit for troops who have been on active duty continuously for four months and now require a break," Kirby stated on "Face the Nation" on Sunday. "I cannot speculate on their plans for these troops following the rest and refit period."
Noting that he can't speak for the operations of a sovereign military, Kirby stressed that the administration has been clear with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that it does not support a ground operation in Rafah, a heavily populated area in southern Gaza, saying that there are alternative options to go after Hamas. He noted that the administration met virtually with Israeli officials last week and expects an in-person meeting "in the next week or so" where they hope to discuss the alternatives.
"Over the past few days, another phase of the Northern Command's readiness for war was completed, centering on operational emergency storages for a broad mobilization of IDF troops when required ... and their arrival at the front line in a short time with all the equipment for combat," the IDF said in a statement on Telegram.
Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Sunday that Israeli troops pulled out of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza Sunday "to prepare for future missions, including... in Rafah," according to AFP. The forces were withdrawn after months of fierce fighting because "Hamas ceased to exist as a military framework" in Khan Yunis, just north of Rafah, where more than 1.5 million Palestinians are sheltering.
The Israeli government has been under intense criticism in recent days after seven humanitarian workers were killed in Gaza.
Kirby reiterated on Sunday that so far, the U.S. has not "seen any indication" that Israel has "violated international humanitarian law," but he noted that the State Department will "keep looking at this."
In the aftermath of the recent attack that that killed seven World Central Kitchen aid workers, Kirby said "there have been too many aid workers killed by Israeli operations" and he added that's why the president "was so firm" with Netanyahu during a call afterward. Kirby reiterated that Israel must make "sustained changes in the way they're operating on the ground and the way they are allowing humanitarian assistance to get in" to Gaza. After Netanyahu's call with Mr. Biden last week, the Israeli government approved the opening of three humanitarian aid corridors that were specifically requested by the president.
The Israeli military said Friday that they had fired two officers and reprimanded three others for their roles in the strike.
Still, some members of the president's own party have said that he must hold Israel's government more accountable amid a massive civilian death toll in Gaza. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat who also appeared on "Face the Nation" on Sunday said that while he was "glad" to see the president's requests of Netanyahu, the White House must outline the "consequences" should Israel disregard them in the future.
- Transcript: Sen. Chris Van Hollen on "Face the Nation," April 7, 2024
"It is imperative that we establish mechanisms to ensure compliance with the President's requests," Sen. Chris Van Hollen emphasized during his appearance on "Face the Nation."
