US Sends Warning to Israel as Support for Gaza Decline Looms
Amid escalating Gaza violence, US President Biden and his advisors caution Israel that pursuing military objectives will face mounting challenges as global concern grows over the dire humanitarian crisis
President Joe Biden and his senior advisers are sending a strong message to Israel, cautioning that it will face increasing challenges in pursuing its military objectives in Gaza due to mounting global outcry over the extensive humanitarian crisis. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, both of whom are currently en route to Israel, have expressly emphasized the need to protect civilian lives in private discussions with Israeli officials. They have made it clear that a decline in support will have severe strategic repercussions for the Israeli Defense Forces' operations against Hamas.
American officials also believe that Israel has limited time to achieve its stated goal of eliminating Hamas in its current operation. There is concern that the growing humanitarian crisis and civilian casualties will soon reach a tipping point, leading to calls for a ceasefire. In fact, some of the president's closest advisers believe that the pressure on the US government to publicly demand a ceasefire will become untenable within a few weeks, not months, according to sources.
There is no indication of a decrease in Israel's offensive. On Thursday, the Israeli military announced that it is encircling Gaza City and intensifying its operations. CNN observed the skies of Northern Gaza being lit up by flares and explosions as the bombardment escalated late Thursday night.
The Israeli airstrikes during this week, specifically those targeting a refugee camp in northern Gaza, left behind devastating scenes of widespread destruction and loss of lives, which deeply affected Biden and his national security team, according to two sources familiar with the matter. One of the sources stated that the president strongly disapproved of this situation.
"The challenge facing Israel is that not only their critics, but even their closest allies, are increasingly vocal in their criticism," stated a senior official from the administration.
According to Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces, the objective of the strike was to eliminate a Hamas commander who was hiding in an underground bunker. He further claimed that the destruction of the complex may have caused adjacent buildings to collapse.
Protests in Western capitals and even at a private fundraiser attended by Biden in Minnesota have already caused street blockades. During the event, an audience member demanded Biden to call for an immediate ceasefire, to which Biden explicitly responded by requesting a break in the fighting. He further emphasized that a pause would allow time to evacuate prisoners.
Senior administration officials report that President Biden has refrained from setting any red lines for Israel. Additionally, the White House has made a deliberate effort to abstain from advocating for a ceasefire, believing that such a move would inadvertently benefit Hamas by granting them time to regroup and plan future actions. In a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden expressed concerns that the continuous distressing images of Palestinian women and children being rescued from the wreckage could potentially hinder Israel's progress in its ongoing operation.
Biden has cautioned Netanyahu about the potential negative judgment by the international community if Israel fails to alleviate humanitarian suffering and reduce Palestinian civilian fatalities. This applies not only to the IDF's actions in Gaza but also addresses the recent escalation of violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank. During a phone call on Sunday, Biden expressed his concern to the prime minister and strongly emphasized the necessity to halt these attacks, as reported by a source familiar with the conversation.
Biden and high-ranking national security officials have intensified their appeals for temporary intervals in the conflict, aiming to facilitate the safe release of hostages held by Hamas and enable the delivery of aid into Gaza. These intervals, distinguished by US officials as distinct from a ceasefire and confined to specific areas for a limited period of time, are among the various specific concerns that American authorities have raised with Israel in response to the increasing public outcry regarding the plight of Palestinian civilians.
Other priorities mentioned by individuals with knowledge of the situation include ensuring phone and internet connectivity in Gaza, facilitating the entry of fuel and water, and addressing the escalating violence on the West Bank. According to CNN, the Israeli military has stated that Hamas is holding fuel supplies in Gaza that are not being used for humanitarian purposes.
During their ten phone conversations, Biden has emphasized specific issues and actions to Netanyahu. These include significantly increasing the number of aid trucks permitted in Gaza, assisting the departure of foreign nationals from Gaza, and addressing extremist settler violence against Palestinians on the West Bank.
Blinken, who is scheduled to depart on Thursday for a trip to Israel, expressed his intention to engage in discussions regarding actionable measures to mitigate the impact on the people of Gaza, including men, women, and children. "I prefer not to elaborate on the specifics at this moment, but this matter remains a top priority," he stated in front of his aircraft at Joint Base Andrews.
Seeing a Palestinian child, whether it's a boy or a girl rescued from the debris of a collapsed building, affects me just as deeply as witnessing a child in Israel or any other place. Consequently, we bear a responsibility to take action and we will," he expressed. When CNN questioned if Israel had demonstrated restraint during its offensive in Gaza, Blinken abstained from providing a direct "yes" or "no" response. Instead, he emphasized that Israel has the right to safeguard itself and a "duty to employ all possible means to safeguard civilians."
In a statement on Thursday, Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut called on Israel's allies to acknowledge that the current approach is resulting in an intolerable amount of harm to civilians and is unlikely to effectively eliminate the threat from Hamas. He urged Israel to promptly reconsider its strategy.
Pentagon officials believe that Israel has been accurately targeting Hamas, including high-ranking commanders. As questions arise regarding the extent of US influence over Israeli decision-making, officials feel that Israel's ground invasion strategy has been adjusted based on advice from American military officials.
Defense officials state that Austin has been communicating directly and openly with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on a regular basis. He has been urging for specific details on Israel's goals in Gaza and emphasizing the importance of Israel being perceived by the international community as working to protect civilians. Additionally, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, in his recent phone call with Chief of the Israeli General Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, highlighted the importance of safeguarding civilians and ensuring humanitarian aid access to them in Gaza, as mentioned by a defense official.
The US acknowledges that Israel will independently evaluate the pros and cons of conducting strikes, with the recent Hamas terror attack on October 7 significantly impacting this calculation, according to one official. Although the US may approach its own analyses differently, the Biden administration affirms that it is Israel's responsibility to wage this war and make its own ultimate choices. However, there are concerns among officials about the strikes leading to an excessive number of civilian casualties, which have been communicated to the Israelis by a senior administration official, as told to CNN.
American officials are also worried about the lack of fuel entering Gaza for humanitarian reasons. In his discussions with Israeli officials on Friday, Blinken intends to address this matter, as confirmed by a knowledgeable source.
According to officials, the fuel problem, along with other humanitarian issues, has been discussed at higher levels of both the Israeli and US governments in recent days. Although Israel has recently agreed to permit more aid trucks into Gaza, it required persistent pressure from the US to make it happen.
During a meeting at the White House on Monday, the Israel-Hamas conflict took center stage, showcasing the international divisions. Chile had recently recalled its ambassador to Israel due to alleged breaches of international humanitarian law in Gaza, and President Gabriel Boric of Chile joined President Biden in the Oval Office. While the main agenda revolved around economic cooperation, climate change, and migration, the discussion of the Israel-Hamas war was anticipated as well.
Asked as the meeting was getting underway if he planned to raise his concerns about Israel, Boric offered a clear nod yes.
CNNs Oren Liebermann contributed to this report.
