US Defense Secretary Austin Visits Israel Amid Calls for Strategy Shift from Netanyahu

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin will be visiting Israel on Monday to gather insights from Israeli officials on their military operations. This visit comes amidst a growing tension between President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the escalating civilian casualties in Gaza. Biden is facing mounting pressure to urge Netanyahu to ease the heavy bombing in Gaza, which has led to international outcry and demands for a lasting ceasefire.

CNN's report earlier this month indicated that US officials were expecting Israel to transition to a more localized strategy focusing on specific Hamas militants and leadership by January. A senior defense official stated that Israel's security establishment is constantly evaluating the conditions needed to move to the next phase of the conflict and that US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is eager to hear Israel's self-assessment on Monday. During the update, Austin will learn how the Israel Defense Forces, the War Cabinet, and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant are evaluating the current phase of the campaign in Gaza and what criteria they are using to transition to the next phase.

Gen. CQ Brown Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will accompany Austin on his visit to Israel for meetings with senior Israeli officials, according to Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder. Austin's discussions will center on evaluating the current campaign progress, identifying operational goals that must be met, and preparing for future plans, as stated by a defense official.

Austin's visit follows national security adviser Jake Sullivan's visit to Tel Aviv and President Biden's direct call for Israel to do more to protect civilians in Gaza. Sullivan announced Friday that Israel would shift its focus to more targeted strikes on Hamas leadership to minimize civilian casualties. In response to a question from CNN's Alex Marquardt, Sullivan stated that Israel aims to differentiate between targets that would endanger civilians and those targeting Hamas.

"We have always conveyed that Israel aims to clearly and sustainably draw distinctions, and we expect to see tangible results aligned with that goal," expressed Sullivan. The Palestinian Ministry of Health, relying on data from hospitals in Hamas-controlled Gaza, reported on Sunday that around 18,800 Palestinians, 70% of whom are women and children, have died in Gaza since October 7. CNN has not independently verified these figures.

Before Austin's visit, Senator Chris Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, stated that the US message about reducing civilian casualties is not effectively reaching Israel. On ABC's "This Week," the Maryland Democrat expressed concern about the high levels of civilian casualties and the loose rules of engagement in Israel. He emphasized that they are looser than what the United States would exercise.

GOP presidential contender Chris Christie urged Israel on "State of the Union" to decrease tensions within the IDF following an accidental fatal shooting of three Israelis in Gaza. The former New Jersey governor expressed concern that the administration's critique of Israel is supporting Hamas, despite US support for Israel's right to self-defense. On the other hand, senior defense officials emphasized that the US unwaveringly supports Israel's right to self-defense, but President Biden has been more direct in publicly urging Israel to minimize harm to civilians.

Biden recently expressed concern that Israel may be losing global support due to indiscriminate bombing and emphasized the need for more care in targeting civilians. During his visit to Israel, Austin will address specific areas of concern, such as increasing humanitarian aid access and minimizing civilian harm.

Despite increasing pressure for Israel to take more action to protect civilians, the Biden administration does not intend to impose any conditions on its military assistance to the country, according to officials who spoke with CNN last week. Additionally, a senior defense official stated on Sunday that Austins dedication to supporting Israel remains unwavering.