White House National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby confirmed that the United States regularly offers guidance to Israel regarding military operations in the Gaza Strip. The comments, referenced by TASS, reflect a pattern of consultation based on long-standing experience with similar campaigns and a shared assessment of the evolving situation. Kirby stressed that these exchanges occur daily, as he spoke to reporters aboard a presidential plane en route to Denver, Colorado, where President Joe Biden was scheduled to address audiences. He noted that the United States and its Israeli partners continually review strategic options and adjust assessments as events unfold.
The broader crisis in the region intensified after thousands of Hamas militants breached Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip on October 7, triggering the launch of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood by Hamas. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the country was at war. The Israeli leadership has described the objective as repelling the attack, working to secure the release of more than 200 hostages, including foreign nationals, and degrading Hamas capabilities. In pursuit of these aims, Israel initiated substantial rocket operations against targets in Gaza from the outset of the campaign. Concurrently, the Israeli National Security Council ordered restrictions on essential goods and utilities, including water, food, and fuel, as part of a broader security strategy. Humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza began through the Rafah crossing around October 20, but officials indicated that the initial shipments were insufficient to meet urgent needs.
On October 27, Israel announced an expansion of the ground operation in Gaza. The timing of the operation’s concrete start remained unclear, but in the lead-up hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled their homes, seeking shelter in safer areas in the southern parts of the region. By November 5, Israeli forces had surrounded Gaza City as part of the ground campaign, with corridors and supplies still blocked in central Gaza as ongoing fighting continued in some areas.
Earlier, Hamas had initiated actions that led to the taking of hostages, further complicating the humanitarian and security dimensions of the conflict. The evolving situation has drawn international attention to governance, civilian protection, and the challenge of delivering aid while pursuing strategic objectives on both sides.