Israeli Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi expressed readiness on Thursday to ease Israel's fuel restrictions on the Gaza Strip during wartime, stating that if the hospitals there run out of fuel, they could be resupplied under supervision. Halevi said during a television appearance in response to a journalist's question, "Notice that they have been telling us for over a week that fuel will run out in hospitals tomorrow. It hasn't run out yet." He added, "We will wait for that day (when the fuel runs out). Fuel will be transferred, under monitoring, to the hospitals. We will do whatever is necessary to ensure it does not reach Hamas's infrastructure and that it ultimately serves the real needs regarding patient care."
Indicating that Israel is prepared to escalate the war, including against Hamas allies in Lebanon and elsewhere in the region, Halevi stated that "the air force is currently using less than half of its capabilities." He expressed appreciation for U.S. support, which has sent naval reinforcements to the region. He noted, "This partnership is important. It can reach issues of dialogue and intelligence sharing and can also go further than that."
