Iran Press/ West Asia: As reports swirl of disagreements between the Israeli army and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the delayed ground operation, a joint statement claims they are working in lockstep.
Reports have indicated tensions between Gallant and "IDF" head Herzi Halevi on one side and Netanyahu on the other as an expected ground invasion continues to lack a green light from Netanyahu, who appears to be giving time for hostage negotiations to bear fruit.
Zionist military tension with the government
According to a report by "The Times of Israel, after 16 days of airstrikes, the Israeli military has told the government that it is fully prepared for a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip, and believes it can achieve the goals set out for it, even at the risk of heavy casualties to soldiers, and amid ongoing attacks by Hezbollah in the north."
But the military fears that the government may not ever give the order to begin the ground offensive, or postpone it for a lengthy period.
On Monday, The New York Times reported that the White House wants Israel to delay its ground operation to allow more time for negotiations to release the hostages, as well as US military full deployment in the region.
The report, which cited several unnamed US officials, said the Biden administration also wants to increase preparedness for any potential attacks on US targets in the region which it believes are likely to increase as the war goes on.
White House reaction to hostage-release report
Asked to comment on reports that some hostages will soon be released by Hamas, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby says he cannot say anything.
He says the effort to bring hostages home is an “hour-by-hour” matter at the White House.
The i24 news network reports that 50 hostages with dual citizenship are on their way to southern Gaza where they are set to be released into the custody of the Red Cross.
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