## A Shift in Strategy: U.S. Support Bolsters Israel’s Operations in Gaza
Nearly a month into the renewed ground operation in Gaza, Israel’s actions are increasingly shaped by significant support from the United States—across military, diplomatic, and political spheres. Israeli officials have indicated a heightened possibility of a hostage deal emerging within the coming weeks.
During a meeting at the Oval Office on Monday, President Trump, seated alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stated, “We are trying very hard to get the hostages out. We’re looking at another ceasefire. We’ll see what happens.” This underscored his administration’s dual approach: continued diplomatic pressure on Iran combined with unwavering support for Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
Expanding Operations and Strategic Objectives
With a degree of operational freedom, Israeli forces have broadened their offensive to include Rafah and the strategically vital Morag Corridor. This expansion is aimed at intensifying pressure on Hamas and ultimately securing the release of the remaining 59 hostages.
A senior Israeli security official emphasized this coordination with the U.S., stating, “Everything is coordinated with the Americans — both the negotiations and the operational activity. The goal is to bring the hostages home. We now have a free hand to act, no longer facing the threat of a veto at the UN Security Council.”
A Shift in Humanitarian Policy: Leveraging Control
The official also highlighted a change in humanitarian policy as contributing to Israel’s leverage. “Unlike the previous administration, the U.S. is not forcing 350 aid trucks into Gaza every day. That gives us leverage,” they explained, adding that limiting aid reduces Hamas’s ability to control the population.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Saturday the takeover of the Morag Axis, a crucial area separating Rafah from Khan Younis. This move is intended to establish a buffer zone and degrade Hamas’ operational capabilities. “The logic is that the more territory Hamas loses, the more likely it will be to compromise on a hostage deal,” the official stated.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir reinforced this strategy during a visit with front-line units, instructing them: “I expect you to defeat the Rafah Brigade and lead to victory wherever you are fighting.” Despite previous declarations of dismantling the Rafah Brigade, forces have returned to key strongholds where extensive tunnel networks remain.
Hamas Response & Calls for Action
In a Saturday statement, Katz addressed Gazans directly: “Hamas is unable to protect the residents or the territory. Hamas leaders are hiding in tunnels with their families or living in luxury hotels abroad, with billions in bank accounts, using you as human shields. Now is the time to rise up, to get rid of Hamas, and to release all the Israeli hostages — that is the only way to stop the war.”
During the meeting between Trump and Netanyahu, both reaffirmed their shared goals. Netanyahu suggested Gazans should be “free to choose to go wherever they want,” a potential reference to discussions about third-country resettlement. Trump further proposed a U.S. presence in Gaza, stating, “Gaza is an incredible piece of important real estate. Having a peace force like the United States there, controlling and owning the Gaza Strip would be a good thing.”
Expert Analysis & Potential Challenges
Former senior director at the U.S. National Security Council, Javed Ali, offered a cautious perspective on the military strategy, noting that Israel’s current operations are focused on clearing and holding remaining pockets of Hamas influence while simultaneously displacing Palestinian populations.
“Now that we’re almost a full month into the resumption of high-intensity IDF operations in the Gaza Strip against Hamas, Israel’s military strategy appears to be focused on clearing and holding remaining pockets of known Hamas elements, which at the same time is displacing Palestinians throughout the territory.”
Ali questioned how Israel intends to govern cleared areas, drawing parallels to past U.S. experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan, where “insurgent and jihadist elements utilized guerrilla warfare tactics and terrorist attacks.”
While the Biden administration has previously prioritized humanitarian access, Ali observed that the current White House hasn’t publicly pressured Israel to scale back its operations. This could change as conditions worsen or if negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program progress.
Reshaping Humanitarian Aid & International Reactions
Israel has taken steps to reshape the humanitarian landscape in Gaza, restricting Hamas’s control over aid distribution – a shift authorized by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir.
“Hamas will not regain control over the aid because that was its lifeline,” an Israeli security official explained. “It’s what allowed it to maintain control over the territory throughout this period. People in Gaza know that Hamas controls the aid; if they realize that Hamas no longer does, its control within the Strip becomes ineffective.”
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the ongoing blockade of aid on April 8, stating: “More than an entire month has passed without a drop of aid into Gaza. No food. No fuel. No medicine. Gaza is a killing field — and civilians are in an endless death loop.”
Israel’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein strongly refuted Guterres’ claims, stating: “As always, you don’t let the facts get in the way when spreading slander against Israel… Hamas used this aid to rebuild its war machine. Yet, not a word in your statement about the imperative for Hamas to leave Gaza.”
Eugene Kontorovich of the Heritage Foundation asserted that claims of starvation were inaccurate and attributed any food scarcity to Hamas’ actions.
- The UN’s own Food Security Phase Classification found prior reports inaccurate.
- There is no serious evidence of starvation in Gaza.
- Food scarcity can be attributed to Hamas pillaging and hoarding aid.
As military and diplomatic efforts converge, Israeli officials express cautious optimism regarding the potential for a resolution.
