U.S. General Fears Prolonged Conflict, Egypt Is Experienced In Mediating Hamas-Israel

JAKARTA - United States (U.S.) top military general Mark Milley fears a protracted conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, creating destability and broader hostility between the two countries.

Milley based his concerns, after clashes between the two countries lasted for a week, with no indication of a drop in tensions. Retaliating against each other in rocket attacks with airstrikes on both sides means nothing and there is no interest in continuing the fighting.

"In my judgment, there is a broader risk of destabilization and a series of negative consequences if the fighting continues," the Army General, who serves as the U.S. military's Joint Chiefs of Staff Chief of Staff, told Reuters on Tuesday.

"So I think de-escalation is a smart move at the moment for all parties concerned," he continued.

Shortly after Milley spoke, six bullets were fired from Lebanon toward northern Israel but failed to cross the border, the Israeli military said. Israel says artillery was fired at the source of the launch in Lebanon in retaliation.

Milley was widely warned about the risks of conflict, including the risk of influencing efforts to normalize U.S.-backed Palestinian-Israeli relations and Arab states in the 'Abraham Accords'.

"I believe that whatever military objectives are out there need to be balanced with other consequences. There are likely to be negative consequences for such things (affecting normalization efforts)," he said.

Separately, a senior Israeli official cast doubt on the possibility of a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza militants, after more than a week of violent conflict that killed hundreds of people.

Efforts by the United States, Egypt, and the United Nations to stop Israeli airstrikes and rocket fire by Palestinian militants in Gaza have so far failed to quell the fighting.

'There's no such thing now. No negotiations. There are no proposals. Nothing was discussed," said a senior Israeli official, regarding a possible ceasefire with the Palestinians.

'We don't know how much time we need, because rocket fire is unrelenting. We can't stop when attacks come like this. Israel is ready to continue fighting," the official continued.

Nevertheless, the official said Egypt could be the key and most reliable mediator to defuse tensions between Israel and Gaza's ruler, Hamas.

Egypt, which shares a border with Gaza, has mediated an Israeli-Hamas ceasefire in the past, along with Qatar and the United Nations.

"They (Egypt) seem to be most connected," the Israeli official said.