Behind the scenes, American officials believe there is limited time for Israel to try to accomplish its stated objective of taking out Hamas in its current operation before uproar over the humanitarian suffering and civilian casualties – and calls for a ceasefire – reaches a tipping point.
In fact, there is recognition within the administration that that moment may arrive quickly: weeks, not months, until rebuffing the pressure on the US government to publicly call for a ceasefire becomes untenable.
There have been no signs that Israel’s offensive is slowing. The Israeli military said Thursday it is surrounding Gaza City and “deepening” its operations there. the skies of Northern Gaza illuminated by flares and explosions as the bombardment intensified late Thursday night. American officials concerned that fuel is not entering Gaza for humanitarian purposes. Blinken plans to raise the issue in his talks with Israeli officials Friday, according to a person familiar with the matter.
The fuel issue has been raised at senior levels of the Israeli and US governments over the last several days, officials said, along with other humanitarian concerns. While Israel has recently agreed to allow more aid trucks across the border into Gaza, it took a sustained pressure campaign from the US to get them there.
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