John Kirby Rejects Immediate Ceasefire in Israel-Hamas War: ‘Really Only Benefits Hamas’

White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby spoke against calls for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, saying that the terror group would be the only beneficiary from that.

Kirby joined Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre for Tuesday’s press briefing, a day after President Joe Biden called for Hamas to release their hostages before any talk of a ceasefire. A reporter asked Kirby whether he could envision a scenario where the hostages would be released, Hamas would be disarmed, and an “international conference” would resolve the war in Israel.

His answer:

I couldn’t begin to speculate on that. Those are potential steps that haven’t happened yet, and it may not happen. All I can tell you is we’re going to continue to make sure Israel has the tools and the capabilities that they need to defend themselves and to continue to try to get that humanitarian assistance in. We’re going to continue to try to get hostages and people out of Gaza appropriately.

As I think you’ve heard us say, a ceasefire right now really only benefits Hamas. That’s where we are right now. I understand the question, but I’m just not going to get ahead.

Kirby couldn’t say if there was a way to avert Israel’s planned ground invasion of Gaza, but he reiterated the point that “a ceasefire right now is only going to benefit Hamas.”

Watch above via The White House.