US Influences Israel's Gaza Military Campaign Amid Regional Concerns

"Early into the conflict, Israel promised 'coordinated strikes from the air, sea and land' on Hamas, but its military later indicated that the ground operation 'might be something different from what you think,'" reports the news outlet.

This shift in Israel's stance follows a series of unprecedented visits to the country by high-ranking US officials, including President Joe Biden.

According to three unnamed senior Israeli officials interviewed by Bloomberg, the role and influence of the US in the Gaza conflict are "deeper and more intense than any exerted by Washington in the past."

One of Washington's primary concerns is that Israel's ground campaign could potentially draw Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based Islamic resistance group, into the conflict. This, as the report notes, could open a second front in the conflict, leading to regional turmoil. Such a development would also risk derailing the White House's efforts to promote peace between Israel and Arab countries and stabilize the Middle East.

In a related development, Israeli Minister Yoav Gallant, on Thursday, met with service members stationed near Gaza and urged them to "get organized, be ready" for the offensive. He emphasized, "Whoever sees Gaza from afar now, will see it from the inside."

Gaza, home to 2.3 million people, has been the focal point of Israel's bombing campaign since the regime initiated its response to a deadly surprise attack by the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas on October 7. The conflict has taken a heavy toll, with 4137 civilians killed and thousands injured in Israeli attacks.

Additionally, more than 25 percent of Gaza's residential buildings, equivalent to over 98,000 housing units, have been destroyed in Israeli air assaults.