US pressing Israel to limit strikes in southern Gaza where Palestinians told to flee, officials tell ToI

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration has been privately pressing Israel to limit its airstrikes in southern Gaza, arguing that the IDF has less legitimacy to be targeting that area of the Strip after telling civilians to evacuate there from the north, a US and an Israeli official tell The Times of Israel.

The Israeli official says the IDF strikes have focused largely on northern Gaza where a larger proportion of Hamas strongholds are located. However, it reserves the right to target the terror group anywhere in the Strip after the October 7 onslaught, the official clarifies.

The Israeli official highlights the IDF’s demarcation of a humanitarian zone in southwest Gaza where international aid will be provided to those who have fled following the military’s directive for Palestinians to evacuate the northern Strip.

But the US official says the area has not been clearly designated by Israel and is far too small to house Gaza’s entire population of 2.3 million people, leaving the vast majority of them still exposed to the aerial bombardment.

The US official clarifies that Washington recognizes that Hamas is operating from within and underneath civilian populations throughout the entirety of Gaza. However, the US is concerned about the mushrooming number of civilian casualties, which complicates the administration’s ability to continue supporting Israel’s military operation while also rallying allies to follow suit, the official adds.

The IDF calls on #GazaCity residents to evacuate south for their protection.

Al-Mawasi is where international #HumanitarianAid will be provided as needed. pic.twitter.com/HT4PGtzNre

— COGAT (@cogatonline) October 18, 2023