US official: Israel will continue to pursue top Hamas leaders

JERUSALEM

The US national security advisor affirmed that Israel will continue to pursue the top leaders of the Palestinian Hamas movement in Gaza.

Speaking to Israeli Channel 12 late Thursday, Jake Sullivan said that, from an American point of view, Israel will continue its military efforts to pursue Hamas leaders for some time, but gave no specific time frame needed for Israel to “eliminate” Hamas.

The issue, according to Sullivan, who is visiting Tel Aviv, is when Israel would shift from the high-intensity operations to a different stage of the conflict.

He also said he had had “very constructive” talks with Israeli officials on the stages of the current Israeli war on Gaza.

The White House said in a statement Thursday that Sullivan “met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his War Cabinet, Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, Israeli National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi, and member of the War Cabinet Benny Gantz.”

The meeting was held “to discuss the ongoing conflict in Gaza and our shared objective of defeating Hamas, while minimizing harm to civilians and ensuring the increased and sustained flow of humanitarian assistance into Gaza.”

US President Joe Biden said Tuesday that Israel is losing support around the world and so Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "has to strengthen and change" his government.

The remarks came after Netanyahu admitted Tuesday that there is disagreement with Biden on “post-Hamas” Gaza Strip.

Sullivan is scheduled to end his visit to Israel on Friday.

Israel has bombarded the Gaza Strip from the air and land, imposed a siege, and mounted a ground offensive in retaliation for a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.

At least 18,787 Palestinians have since been killed and 50,897 injured in the Israeli onslaught, according to Gaza’s health authorities.

The Israeli death toll in the Hamas attack stands at 1,200, while 135 hostages are still held by the Palestinian group in Gaza, according to official figures.

* Writing by Ikram Kouachi