Israel is far from ending the war against the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip, an unnamed United States official told CBS News Friday.
"The Israelis haven't come close to achieving their objective of destroying Hamas," the official said, adding that hundreds of terrorists and miles of unexplored tunnels remain, and Hamas Gaza chief Yahya Sinwar remains at large.
According to the source, since Israel has no "day after" plan, the current strategy is "a recipe for continuous war."
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Thursday night with National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer.
Blinken reiterated Washington's commitment to Israeli security and discussed ongoing efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and ensure the release of all hostages.
The secretary of state emphasized the need to take additional steps to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza and to plan for governance, security, and reconstruction after the war. He also stressed the importance of avoiding further escalation in Lebanon and reaching a diplomatic decision that allows Israeli and Lebanese evacuees to return to their homes.
The meeting between Hanegbi, Dermer, and Blinken took place against the backdrop of the heightened tensions between Washington and Jerusalem after White House spokesman John Kirby called a video released by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in which he accused the US of withholding specific weapons, "perplexing" and "disappointing." Subsequently, Netanyahu tweeted on X, "I am willing to absorb personal attacks if that is what it takes for Israel to get the arms and ammunition it needs in its war for survival."
