National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan indicated today, Sunday, that "humanitarian issues in Gaza will be a top priority for U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his current visit to the Middle East." He noted on the CBS program "Face the Nation" that "reaching an agreement with the Palestinian Hamas movement for the release of the remaining hostages during a humanitarian ceasefire is in the interest of the United States, and we will press for that tirelessly." He added that "the ball is in Hamas's court regarding such an agreement," pointing out that the Israelis have proposed an offer.
On the other hand, Sullivan stated that "the United States intends to carry out more strikes on Iran-backed groups in the Middle East." He further added, "There will be additional actions in response to the killing of three American soldiers in Jordan last week." He continued, "What happened on Friday was the beginning of our response, not its end, and there will be further steps, some visible and some perhaps not visible... I wouldn't describe it as an open military campaign."
