John Kirby says the White House is gathering additional information regarding Mexico and Chile’s request for an investigation into potential war crimes by “Israel”.
US National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby told reporters that US President Joe Biden “still believes in the promise and the possibility of a two-state solution.”
During a briefing at the White House after Biden’s call with Israeli occupation’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Kirby emphasized Biden’s firm belief that the most appropriate course of action moving forward is “a two-state solution”.
“Good friends and allies can have those kinds of candid, forthright discussions and we do,” added Kirby.
The recent conversation also covered the remaining US captives held by Hamas since October 7, as per Kirby.
Meanwhile, he still maintained the US position against a ceasefire in Gaza, as he explicitly said, “The US still opposes a general ceasefire in Gaza,” despite a death toll nearing 25,000, in addition to 62,108 injured.
Furthermore, Kirby has stated that the White House is currently in the process of gathering additional information regarding Mexico and Chile’s request for an investigation into potential war crimes by “Israel”. He also mentioned that, at present, the White House sees no indications suggesting deliberate war crimes.
“The US backs humanitarian pauses,” he claimed, “but thinks a ceasefire will benefit Hamas.”
Regarding the Red Sea matter, attacks by Ansar Allah in the Red Sea are not expected to be a factor in any discussions about a ceasefire in Gaza, Kirby stressed.
According to White House spokesperson Kirby, the United States has carried out additional strikes against Yemen, claiming that Ansar Allah still retains some offensive capabilities, despite all reports indicating that the effects of the US-UK aggression were minimal on the group.
It is worth noting that Biden and Netanyahu’s last discussion was on December 23, and the communication gap has raised questions about a potential rift between them.
Despite their historically complex relationship, Biden has consistently supported “Israel” since October 7, even visiting the entity and expressing full US support.
However, tensions have surfaced, particularly regarding the horrific toll of the Israeli aggression on Gaza, with Biden cautioning against “indiscriminate bombing” and suggesting potential repercussions for “Israel’s” support.
Meanwhile, the Israeli government is expressing dissatisfaction with the US push for a prospective resolution that involves statehood for the Palestinians. Biden’s last tense call with Netanyahu in December concluded abruptly due to a disagreement concerning crucial Palestinian tax revenues held by “Israel”, with Biden reportedly stating, “This conversation is over,” as per Axios.
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The Friday call was not a direct reaction to Netanyahu’s remarks the previous day, according to Kirby, who mentioned that the planning for the call had been in progress for some time. On Thursday, Netanyahu had publicly accused Washington of “endangering” the occupation entity by “coercing” it to open a path toward a “Palestinian State“.
In a press conference, the Prime Minister told reporters that “Israel” must “take control” of all “land west of the River Jordan,” which would hinder the “two-state solution” concept.
“This is a necessary condition, and it conflicts with the idea of (Palestinian) sovereignty. What to do? I tell this truth to our American friends, and I also stopped the attempt to impose a reality on us that would harm Israel’s security,” he said.
During the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, a day prior, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken asserted that “Israel” would not attain “genuine security” without a “pathway to a Palestinian state.”
While visiting the Middle East last week, Blinken communicated to Israeli authorities that Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia, were ready to assist in the reconstruction of Gaza and support future Palestinian governance. However, this assistance hinged on “Israel” facilitating the way for Palestinian statehood.
Netanyahu, on Thursday, emphasized the importance for an Israeli Prime Minister to assertively say “no” when necessary, even to close allies, and to affirmatively say “yes” when possible.
Meanwhile, the crimes of the Israeli occupation continue in Palestine with a rapidly increasing death toll, deliberate starvation, and the spread of highly contagious dangerous diseases.
Source: AlMayadeen
