Herald Sun | Merryn Johns, Maria Bervanakis, and Charles Miranda | 15.12.23
As the death toll in Gaza edges closer to 19,000, the US is pushing to reduce civilian casualties. It comes as a video shows the moment a group of alleged Hamas fighters surrendered. Follow updates. Warning: Graphic
The US is pushing for “high intensity” fighting in Gaza to wrap up within weeks as Israel continues to bomb Gaza.
An Israeli official, speaking anonymously, said the US has pushed for the current phase to wind up by the end of the year, according to the Times of Israel.
White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said during a briefing that Asked for comment, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan “did talk about the possible transitioning from what we would call high intensity operations — which is what we’re seeing them do now — to lower intensity operations sometime in the near future.”
But Mr Kirby added: “I don’t want to put a timestamp on that. The last thing we want to do is telegraph to Hamas what they’re likely to face in the coming weeks and months.”
It comes as a video showed dozens of suspected Hamas terrorists laying down their weapons, after being captured by Israeli troops at a northern Gaza hospital after days of shelling.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) released the footage on X showing a throng of men walking single-file with their hands up through a destroyed area.
The next portion of the recording shows the males with their shirts off dropping their weapons, including assault-style rifles and ammunition.
IDF soldiers from the 460th Combat Brigade of the 162nd Division, along with members of Israel’s security service Shin Bet, carried out the operation to capture 70 males in the Kamal Adwan Hospital near the Israeli border.
The medical facility in Beit Lahia has been surrounded and under heavy fire for days.
At least 18,787 people have died and another 50,897 wounded in Palestine since the war began on October 7, according to Gaza’s healthy ministry.