Although it refrained from officially rejecting it, the United States acknowledged on Thursday that Israel’s efforts to defeat Hamas may be jeopardized by a UN peacekeeping force stationed in the Palestinian territories, as suggested by the Arab League.
The 22-member coalition demanded “international protection and peacekeeping forces of the United Nations in the occupied Palestinian territories” up until a two-state solution is put into effect during a summit in Bahrain.
“We know that Israel is focused on — in working to defeat Hamas,” State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said in response to a question regarding a possible force.
“Candidly, the addition of additional security forces could potentially put that mission into compromise,” he told reporters.
But he said that the United States did not yet have a “conclusive assessment” of the summit’s statement and suggested that a force could be more acceptable once a ceasefire is in place.
“We have, first and foremost, been focused on bringing a conclusion to this conflict,” Patel said.
“Many partners that both in and out of the Arab world share our concerns and share a willingness to play a constructive role when conditions allow,” he said.
Although it is Israel’s biggest ally, the United States has been more critical of the country’s military campaign because of the harm it causes to civilians. It is certain that US forces will not be sent into the battle, according to President Joe Biden.
