US frustration with Israel grows as civilian deaths in Gaza mount

Rift between allies widens as Tel Aviv ignores concerns over conduct of war

WASHINGTON – The White House is getting increasingly frustrated with Israel’s conduct of the war against Hamas as the civilian death toll mounts and the administration’s calls go unheeded, widening a rift between the close allies.

Administration officials are having what they describe as more difficult conversations with their Israeli counterparts.

The United States is trying to shape the conflict – only to have Israel ignore it, according to several people familiar with the conversations. They asked not to be identified discussing private deliberations.

They said the administration has ramped up its private messaging to Israel as impatience has grown.

At the same time, the administration is still fulfilling Israel’s weapons requests, and so far has not threatened any consequences against its key partner in the region.

The tense conversations highlight the risks of the strategy adopted by US President Joe Biden’s administration. It has rested in large part on the idea that a close public embrace of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would open space behind the scenes to deliver tough messages and shape Israel’s conduct of the war. 

But that has proven a difficult balance.

Israel has stepped up its campaign against Hamas and the civilian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to more than 11,000 people, according to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry.

The Biden administration has also come under growing pressure from Arab allies, who argue that its embrace has given Mr Netanyahu a green light to proceed.

At the same time, Mr Netanyahu has so far swept aside US concerns about Americans who remain hostage in Gaza and the hundreds of Palestinian-Americans who have not been able to leave the territory, people familiar with the matter said.