2024-01-28T16:25:38+00:00
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/ The White House confirmed on Sunday that there is no change in US policy towards Israel, after an NBC News report stated that Washington is reviewing arms transfers to the Hebrew state.
“Israel has the right and duty to defend itself against the threat posed by Hamas while adhering to international humanitarian law and protecting civilian lives,” said John Kirby, the National Security Council’s strategic communications coordinator.
Kirby added: “We remain committed to supporting Israel in its war against Hamas. We have done so since October 7 and we will continue to do so.”
NBC News reported that the United States is considering using arms sales to Israel as leverage to persuade the Israeli government to scale back its military offensive in Gaza.
The surprise attack launched by Hamas on Israeli territory on October 7th killed more than 1,140 people in Israel, most of them civilians, according to a count by Agence France-Presse based on official Israeli figures.
About 250 people were kidnapped during the attack, 132 of whom are still being held in the Gaza Strip, according to Israeli authorities. At least 28 of them are believed to have died.
In response, Israel vowed to “eliminate” Hamas and launched a massive military operation that left 26,422 dead, most of them women and children, according to the latest tally from the Hamas-run health ministry on Sunday.