President Joe Biden and other senior American officials have warned Israel that its planned offensive in southern Gaza must avoid the kind of internal displacement triggered by the bombardment of the enclave’s northern areas, a senior US administration official has said.
US secretary of state Antony Blinken will press for protection for civilians in Gaza as well as call for more aid to be delivered on an expected visit to Israel, the West Bank and the United Arab Emirates this week.
US officials acknowledge that Israel intends to resume its plan to eliminate Hamas after the current pause in fighting but have told Israel it must not worsen the humanitarian crisis when and if its army moves into southern Gaza.