Mr. Kirby also sought to allay concerns that the United States is breaking with its closest ally in the Middle East.
Kirby said Thursday that Biden had visited Israel within days of the Oct. 7 attack and provided Israel with funding and military expertise, saying, “Claims that there are such things are contrary to the facts,” he said. That war, and sent American fighter pilots into the skies to shoot down Iranian drones.
He said the United States believes Israel is “putting tremendous pressure on Hamas and that there are better ways to take out what remains of Hamas in Rafah than a large-scale ground operation.”
Kirby said he continues to work with Israel on ways the United States can help defeat Hamas, including ensuring the Gaza-Egypt border is not used to smuggle weapons or target Hamas leaders. .
He also noted that while the United States has suspended bomb transfers, Israel “still obtains a huge majority of what it needs to defend itself” and that recent funding plans passed by Congress will continue to He also noted that billions of dollars would be transferred. To Israel.
Biden's decision to suspend some arms shipments to Israel highlighted growing discontent between him and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Prime Minister Netanyahu said Israel would proceed with its invasion of Rafah even without global support. The Israeli military carried out a number of targeted attacks in Rafah last week, signaling a major ground invasion that would include the evacuation of more than 100,000 people.
On Thursday, the Israeli leader said: “If we have to be isolated, we will be isolated. I also said we will fight with our claws if we have to. But we have more than our claws, that same strength of mind, With God's help, we will win together.”