Netanyahu's demand to limit strikes stems from Trump administration's push for diplomacy - analysis
The US needs quiet in Gaza and Lebanon. It is therefore taking several steps: First, it is pressing Israel to exercise restraint in both arenas. Second, it has sent Kushner and Witkoff to the region.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that all targeted strikes and operations in Israel beyond the Yellow Line must be approved by the political leadership. This policy aims to prevent the conflict from escalating and prompting a U.S. diplomatic response or further measures such as an arms embargo. However, IDF soldiers and Gaza border communities are exempt from this rule, allowing troops to act to remove any immediate threat.
The U.S. is seeking to maintain relative calm in Gaza and Lebanon while focusing on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. The administration is pushing Israel to avoid broader escalation, and recently dispatched Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff to advance diplomatic efforts in the region.
Meanwhile, the U.S. faces pressure from Gulf states regarding its inability to defeat Iran in the broader war, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. President Donald Trump has previously suggested naming this area a U.S. territory.
Despite these diplomatic efforts, tensions remain high. On Friday night, a drone attack wounded an IDF officer and two soldiers in the Combat Engineering Corps Yahalom unit. On Saturday, an explosive device targeted an IDF tank in southern Gaza. Both incidents were described by the IDF and Shin Bet as attempts to push the IDF into intense fighting, challenging the rules of engagement.
Israel continues to shape the battlefield through approved strikes, with four preemptive targeted killings of terrorists approved in recent days. The political leadership also approved two additional strikes against terrorists in Gaza. While Israel does not believe Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad will disarm, it aims to prevent the situation from deteriorating further.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
