Israel does not feel Washington’s Gaza window closing, Israeli official says

Though the Biden administration has gradually intensified its rhetoric about the importance of protecting civilians in Gaza in recent weeks, the impression in Jerusalem based on conversations with US officials is that Israel’s window to operate in the Hamas-run enclave with Washington’s is not closing, according to an Israeli official.

“There have been some public statements that appear as though the US is turning in a different direction, but I don’t think that is the case,” the official tells The Times of Israel.

The official clarifies that the US has concerns regarding “collateral damage and humanitarian issues” that it continues to raise but that Israel is attentive to them. “We really listen to them and we do what we can [to address their concerns], as long as it doesn’t undermine our ability to operate on the ground militarily.”

The official points to the 1,000 trucks of humanitarian aid that have entered Gaza in recent weeks, insisting that the number will gradually increase. They also highlighted the humanitarian corridors the IDF set up to allow Palestinians to flee south, away from the most intense areas of fighting.

Israel is also facilitating the establishment of field hospitals by foreign governments in southern Gaza as well as floating hospitals off the coast of Egypt. A ship sent by the French government is slated to arrive in the coming days while the UAE and Turkey are in talks to establish their own field hospitals in southern Gaza, the official says.

“These hospitals can accept patients from hospitals in the north,” the official says, adding that Israel is coordinating with both the UN and Egypt in this effort.