The U.S. is working to free hostages and keep Iran at bay. Are they pressuring Israel to delay its ground invasion to accomplish these goals?

From Daily Mail. President Joe Biden is pressuring Israel to delay its ground invasion into Gaza in order to buy time to secure the release of more hostages.

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Additionally, the Biden administration wants to buy time for more humanitarian aid to reach Palestinians and to prepare for possible attacks on U.S. interests in the region from Iran-backed groups, U.S. officials told The New York Times.

Israeli warplanes have been hitting targets across Gaza ahead of an expected ground invasion into the Hamas-led territory. Israeli officials want to eliminate Hamas – a goal the U.S. supports. Officials, however, worry such an invasion could lead to retaliation from Iran against American interests in the region.

White House spokesman John Kirby did not say the administration was pushing Israel to hold off its ground game but emphasized that America’s focus is on the return of the hostages.

‘We have been talking about our Israeli counter parts about their plans, their intentions, their strategy. We have been asking them for how they’re answering the tough questions that any military is going to have to do before you go on and conduct major operation,’ Kirby told CNN on Monday morning. …

Hamas and other militant groups are believed to be holding more than 200 people captive. Additionally, these groups are blocking U.S. citizens and other foreign nationals from leaving, according to Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

The release on Friday of two Americans held by Hamas has increased hopes that more of the hostages will be set free.

‘The [administration] pressed Israeli leadership to delay because of progress on the hostage front,’ and the need to get trucks of aid into Gaza, one person familiar with the discussions told CNN.

But Blinken also refused to directly address the question of whether the U.S. is pushing for a delay in a ground attack.

‘There are many, many Israelis who are hostages and of course, hostages from other nationalities,’ he said Sunday on CBS’ Face the Nation.

‘We’re working to do everything we can, using whatever levers, partnerships, relationships we have to get them out. Israel is doing the same. But in terms of what we’re talking to Israel about with regard to their military operations, it really is focused on both how they do it, and how best to achieve the results that they seek.’

He also said the administration is worried Iran will escalate its actions in the region.

‘In fact we expect that there’s a likelihood of escalation, escalation by Iranian proxies directed against our forces, directed against our personnel,’ he said on NBC’s Meet the Press. ‘We are taking steps to make sure that we can effectively defend our people.’ …

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(Excerpt from Daily Mail. Photo Credit: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)