The conversation focused on Israel’s war against Hamas. The campaign, which is now in its sixth month, has driven a wedge between the longtime allies that some are calling unprecedented. While the relationship between the US and Israel has been dotted with disagreements and crises, the alliance has largely been considered steadfast and unwavering.
As the war continued, the US raised more questions about Israel’s tactics and end-game strategy. Israel’s offensive in Gaza has led to high casualties, with Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry reporting over 31,000 Palestinians killed and 73,000 injured. The offensive has led to widespread destruction in the territory that will cost billions of dollars to repair. Various international organizations have also warned of famine in Gaza, upping the pressure on Israel to halt its offensive.
In the past weeks, the tone adopted by senior American officials toward Israel’s leaders has escalated. Earlier this year, the American president was reported to have called Netanyahu a “bad f***ing guy,” which he denied having said. But last week, he went on the record saying the Israeli leader was causing more harm than good to his country.
“This is a unique crisis, both because it is in the midst of a war and because of what appears to be its very personal nature,” Dr. Shay Har-Zvi, head of the International and Middle Eastern Arenas at Reichman University’s Institute for Policy and Strategy, told The Media Line. “The personal criticism, rather than criticism of policy, makes this crisis exceptional and perhaps one of the most acute.”
The main point of contention is a pending Israeli military operation in Rafah, a city in the southern Gaza Strip. According to the United Nations, a majority of the approximately 1.7 million Palestinians displaced by the war are taking shelter in Rafah. Rafah is the only city in Gaza that has not yet seen an operation of Israeli ground troops.
As Israel delays its operation in Rafah, international pressure against operating in the city has grown. Many countries are warning of an exacerbated humanitarian crisis in Rafah, prompting Israel to consider how best to handle the city’s civilian population.
Netanyahu has vowed to operate in Rafah, saying that Hamas’ senior leadership is hiding there. The city is also home to an extensive underground tunnel network that is believed to cross into neighboring Egypt. The tunnels are Hamas’ main lifeline and source of weapons, making the target a critical one in Israel’s mission to dismantle the terrorist organization’s military capabilities.
“The US feels Israel is not doing enough to meet the humanitarian needs in Gaza and they want answers about how Israel intends to deal with the civilian presence in Rafah,” Har-Zvi said. “The humanitarian issue is at the core of the disagreement.”
Tensions on Israel’s northern border have also escalated, threatening to widen the scope of the conflict. These developments have the White House increasingly on edge.
“The US government is concerned that the failure of these talks will mean a regional escalation,” Har-Zvi said. “There is an understanding within the administration that the region is now at a critical crossroads.”
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