Washington hints at the expiration of Abbas’s authority
The US National Security Advisor says that the war in Gaza will enter a new phase focusing on precision targeting of Hamas leadership
During a visit to Israel on Friday, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan called for the renewal of the Palestinian National Authority amid the rapidly evolving developments in the Gaza Strip and the dispute between Tel Aviv and Washington over the management of the sector after the war.
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Chtayyeh spoke about international pressures on the Palestinian Authority to change its leadership and intensify reforms. He considered such pressures as diverting the desired goal of reaching a political horizon to establish the foundations of peace after the Gaza war.
It is believed that Sullivan’s statement regarding the renewal of the authority is in line with the Israeli government’s desire, which has leveled widespread criticism against its President Mahmoud Abbas, accusing him of supporting terrorism. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the Authority wants to eliminate Israel gradually, while Hamas aims to eliminate it immediately.
Netanyahu rejects the US President Joe Biden‘s plan to transfer control in the Gaza Strip to the Palestinian Authority. Earlier, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for revitalizing the Authority and made visits to Ramallah.
Sullivan is expected to visit Ramallah as well after his visit to Tel Aviv as part of the arrangements for the Gaza Strip after the war.
Regarding the field developments in the sector and US pressure to reduce civilian casualties, Sullivan stated that the war in Gaza will enter a new phase focusing on precise targeting of Hamas leadership and intelligence-based operations.
Israel faces increasing international pressure to reduce civilian losses in its campaign, which has resulted in the deaths of nearly 19,000 Palestinian civilians since Hamas’s attack that caused about 1,200 casualties in southern Israel on October 7th.
The United States is pressing Israel to set a timeline for the war starting in January, while Israel indicates that the fighting will continue for months, and it will remain in the sector indefinitely.
Sullivan said that achieving Israel’s goals in the war will take months, but the fighting will continue in stages, shifting from the current campaign that relies on intensive bombing and ground operations, adding, “We agreed that fighting Hamas will take months and will be phased.”
On Friday, the White House advisor did not provide details on the timing of the shift in the pace of the war, stating at a press conference, “Naturally, the circumstances and timing of that were part of the talks I had with Netanyahu and the War Cabinet and Israeli military leaders and the Defense Minister.”
Sullivan refused to answer when asked if the United States would freeze military aid if the war did not enter a less intense stage with fewer civilian casualties, saying that the best way to reach an agreement is through closed-door discussions.
The US official accuses Hamas of using civilians as human shields, stating that the movement’s fighters hide behind hospitals and schools, adding, “We believe that Palestinians who have been evacuated from the north should be able to return and feel real security.”
The United States provides military, political, and intelligence assistance despite a large number of civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip.
