As the Israeli ground operation enters its fourth week, the United States' support appears to be influencing the conflict in various ways, including militarily, diplomatically, and politically.
Israeli authorities have hinted at a potential increase in the likelihood of a hostage deal, with some predicting progress in the coming fortnight.
During a recent meeting in the Oval Office with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Donald Trump stated, "We are trying very hard to get the hostages out. We're looking at another ceasefire. We'll see what happens." These comments underscore Trump's dual strategy of maintaining diplomatic pressure on Iran while directly backing Israel's military campaign in Gaza.
According to Fox News, Israeli officials, who claim to have a "free hand" to act, have extended their offensive into Rafah and the strategically crucial Morag Corridor. The objective is to intensify pressure on Hamas and aid in the liberation of the remaining 59 hostages.
A high-ranking Israeli security official informed Fox News Digital that the campaign is being executed in close collaboration with the United States. "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, and no longer facing the threat of a veto at the UN Security Council, unlike during the previous administration."
The same official highlighted a shift in humanitarian policy that, in their opinion, has increased Israeli leverage. "Unlike the previous administration, the U.S. is not forcing 350 aid trucks into Gaza every day. That gives us leverage," the official said, adding that limiting aid diminishes Hamass ability to control the population.
Over the weekend, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced the IDF's successful takeover of the Morag Axis. The Morag Corridor a strategic area separating Rafah from Khan Younis is part of an initiative to establish a new buffer zone and weaken Hamass 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 explained.
During a recent visit to front-line units, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir echoed this strategy. "I expect you to defeat the Rafah Brigade and lead to victory wherever you are fighting," he told troops. The IDF had previously declared the Rafah Brigade dismantled in September, but forces have returned to key strongholds, where tunnel networks remain.
In the same announcement, Katz cautioned Gazans, "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 their Oval Office discussion, Trump and Netanyahu reaffirmed their agreement on key issues. Netanyahu suggested that Gazans should be "free to choose to go wherever they want," which some analysts interpret as a reference to revived talks about third-country resettlement. Trump proposed a more radical idea of a U.S. presence in the Strip, noting, "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."
Javed Ali, a former senior director at the U.S. National Security Council and current professor at the University of Michigan, provided a more cautious perspective on the current military strategy. "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 plans to manage or govern the areas it clears. He drew parallels to the U.S. experience in Iraq and Afghanistan. "The U.S. encountered its own challenges in the post-9/11 wars with similar 'clear and hold' approaches, since insurgent and jihadist elements in both conflicts utilized guerrilla warfare tactics and terrorist attacks."
While the Biden administration had previously emphasized humanitarian access, Ali noted that the current White House has not publicly pressed Israel to scale back its operations. "That could change," he said, particularly as humanitarian conditions worsen or if negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program progress. "If those talks gain momentum, Iran may pressure the U.S. to rein in Israels campaign against Hamas to preserve what remains of the group. Whether the U.S. team, led by Steve Witkoff, entertains such demands will be a key regional development to watch."
On the ground, Israel has taken steps to reshape the humanitarian landscape in Gaza. The decision to restrict Hamass access to aid reflects a broader policy shift under IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, who reversed his predecessor's stance and authorized the military to directly oversee the distribution of supplies. "Hamas will not regain control over the aid, because that was its lifeline," an Israeli security official explained. "Its 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."
Humanitarian organizations and international leaders continue to condemn Israel. U.N. Secretary-General Antnio Guterres, speaking on April 8, condemned the ongoing blockade of aid. "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," he said.
Israels Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Oren Marmorstein, strongly rejected the Secretary-Generals claims. "As always, you dont let the facts get in the way when spreading slander against Israel," he posted on X. "There is no shortage of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip over 25,000 aid trucks have entered during the 42 days of the ceasefire. Hamas used this aid to rebuild its war machine. Yet, not a word in your statement about the imperative for Hamas to leave Gaza. The people of Gaza are braver than you theyre calling, loud and clear, on Hamas to leave and stop abusing them."
Eugene Kontorovich, a senior legal scholar at the Heritage Foundation, told Fox News Digital: "One doesnt need the Israeli Supreme Court to say there is no starvation in Gaza this was admitted by the UNs own Food Security Phase Classification, which in June found that prior UN reports were inaccurate and that there is no famine. There is no serious evidence of starvation in Gaza, and what food scarcity does exist can be attributed to Hamas pillaging and hoarding aid. As the truth comes out, it becomes clear that the starvation claims were designed to halt Israels legitimate self-defense against a genocidal attack."
As the military and diplomatic tracks converge, Israeli officials remain cautiously optimistic that negotiations may soon yield results.
Login