White House; ‘Right Time’ To Scale Back Gaza War

January 14, 2024 5:16 am

JERUSALEM (AP) — The White House says “it’s the right time” for Israel to scale back its military offensive in the Gaza Strip, even as Israeli leaders vow to intensify their operation against the territory’s ruling Hamas militant group. The U.S. comments on Sunday exposed the growing differences between the close allies on the 100th day of the war. Also Sunday, Israeli warplanes struck targets in Lebanon following a Hezbollah missile attack in northern Israel that killed two Israeli civilians — an older woman and her adult son. The exchange of fire underscored concerns that the Gaza violence could trigger wider fighting across the region.