The Biden administration fears that an imminent Israeli offensive in southern Gaza will lead to additional Palestinian civilian casualties, disrupt hostage releases, and hinder the flow of humanitarian aid, inviting criticism that Washington is complicit in Israeli actions.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently made it clear to troops in northern Gaza that there will not be any stopping, expressing determination to battle until victory. The possibility of thousands of Palestinian civilians in southern Gaza complicates matters, making the administration increasingly vocal about the need for a different kind of campaign, while still engaging in private conversations with the Israeli government on the matter.
With the escalating situation in southern Gaza, the US is emphasizing stricter operational guidelines around areas where civilians must be protected from kinetic activity. They have advised Israel to use smaller, more precise munitions and are repeatedly cautioning for a pause in fighting and further hostage releases.
Israel, however, has made public vows to use more force to win the offensive in the south. Their response behind closed doors has been open to lessons learned from the north, but they advocate for the need to tackle the increased number of civilians in southern Gaza. There are concerns that millions of civilians will suffer further displacement if Israel presses on with aggressive operations in southern Gaza.
The ramifications of these events have raised concerns in the Arab world, with Jordan and Egypt expressing their fears about potential escalating crises in the region. If major Israeli air and ground operations move south, the sustained and increased delivery of assistance is likely to become more difficult, possibly making humanitarian support networks unable to cope.
