israel gaza may17

The United States is engaged in quiet, intensive diplomacy and our efforts will continue.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on continued fighting in the Middle East between Israelis and Palestinians.

• Here’s the full tweet from NSA Jake Sullivan: “I spoke this morning with Israeli National Security Advisor Meir Ben Shabbat about the ongoing crisis. I also spoke with the Government of Egypt. The United States is engaged in quiet, intensive diplomacy and our efforts will continue.”
• Rocket fire between Israel and Gaza continues and the death tolls rises. Street violence between Israelis and Palestinians also continues.
• While the NSA tweeted this update, the Secretary of State traveling in Europe suggested the U.S. will support a cease fire, and the U.S. ambassador the United Nations said the nation continues to “working tirelessly through diplomatic channels” to help ease the tensions. The U.S. did not support a cease fire resolution by the United Nations security council as calls rise for more American pressure on Israel.

Why It Matters: While pressure rises for the U.S. to help broker a cease fire within the region, questions also surface about what leverage the U.S. has to do with its key ally in the Middle East, Israel. The U.S. has designated Hamas (the group that effectively runs Gaza) a terrorist organization and therefore, negotiations of a ceasefire would not directly include Hamas but may include other Middle Eastern nations.

Here’s an update from The Associated Press