The White House strongly reacted yesterday, Friday, against the statements of the Israeli Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich. Smotrich denounced the upcoming US-sponsored indirect negotiations for a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas in the besieged and devastated Gaza Strip after 309 days of war.

The representative of the National Security Council of the American presidency, John Kirby, came out against the “scandalous” and “absurd” statements of the Israeli minister Smotrich, who “should be ashamed”.

US President Joe Biden is “absolutely ready to defend Israel, once again, with the American armed forces,” Mr Kirby told reporters by telephone. “This is the second time we’ve had to do this in four months,” he continued.

“The idea that he would advance a deal that would endanger Israel’s security is simply wrong. It’s scandalous, it’s absurd,” he insisted.

The day before Thursday, Qatar, Egypt and the US, the three countries mediating the indirect negotiations, called on the parties to resume indirect negotiations on Thursday, August 15, to conclude a cease-fire, stressing that there is already a framework agreement “on the table this moment” and all that remains is to agree on “the details of its implementation”.

“It is time to conclude a cease-fire agreement and an agreement on the release of hostages and prisoners,” they added in the text they released.

Israel agreed to send “on August 15 a delegation of negotiators to the location to be determined, in order to finalize the details and implement the framework agreement,” the services of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is under pressure from the country’s key ally, later announced. of the US to conclude an agreement.

But Finance Minister Smotrich denounced the indirect negotiations yesterday. “It is really not time to fall into the dangerous trap in which the ‘mediators’ will dictate a ‘formula’ and impose a capitulation agreement on us,” rather than “the blood shed in this just war,” he said via X.

“He’s saying this at a time when President Biden is sending US military forces to the Middle East to directly defend Israel against a potential attack by Iran or terrorist organizations it supports,” Mr. Kirby countered.