President Joe Biden and his closest advisers are warning Israel that it will become increasingly difficult to achieve military objectives in Gaza because of the worldwide backlash over civilian suffering there.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken made this message clear in private conversations with Israeli officials, telling them that the loss of support would have serious strategic consequences for the operation of the Israel Defense Forces. against Hamas.
After the quintessence, US officials also believe that Israel is running out of time to realize its objectives against Hamas before the international backlash over the civilian consequences reaches its peak.
In fact, sources tell CNN that this moment could come very soon, and the pressure on the US government and President Biden to call for a ceasefire could be very high.
On the ground, there are no signs that Israel's military operation is slowing down. Two people with knowledge of the matter told CNN that the Biden administration was put in a particularly difficult position after this week's bombing of a refugee camp in northern Gaza and the release of scenes of death and destruction there.
"The problem for Israel is that the criticism is increasing as it comes, even from the closest friends," an administration official told CNN.
US officials insist Biden has drawn no red lines for Israel, and so far the White House has narrowly avoided calls for a ceasefire, saying it would give Hamas terrorists time to regroup for other operations. .
But Biden has told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — over the course of 10 phone calls they've had so far — that the endless sight of Palestinian women and children being pulled from the rubble could narrow Israel's path. In talks with Netanyahu, Biden has warned him that Israel will be judged harshly by the international community if it does not take steps to alleviate the suffering of civilians.
Sources told CNN that Biden has also told Netanyahu that he is also concerned about the increasing violence that Israelis stationed in the West Bank are using against Palestinians.
The Biden administration and the president himself have called on Israel to allow humanitarian pauses and restore some rights it has so far denied the civilian population, such as internet, fuel and water.
Netanyahu is known to have persistently refused some of these rights, stating publicly that there will be no ceasefire unless the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza are released.
Pentagon officials believe Israel is hitting Hamas bases with precision, but remain concerned that the civilian toll is too high.