"White House Uncertain as Israel Redefines Gaza Strategy Amidst Calls to Defeat Hamas"
The White House, through comments made by Brett McGurk, the National Security Council's top Middle East official, has indicated uncertainty regarding the timeline for Israel's transition to less intense military operations in Gaza. Despite some positive signs, such as the withdrawal of Israeli brigades, the U.S. lacks concrete evidence of a tactical shift and anticipates the conflict could extend into 2024. The ongoing war has already resulted in significant Palestinian casualties and displacement, with potential regional escalation risks. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's upcoming Middle East visit aims to address these issues and prevent further escalation.