Biden wants Israel to ‘be more careful’ amid fighting in Gaza

President Biden said Thursday he wants Israel to “be more careful” to protect civilians during its fighting in Gaza.

The president was asked if he wants Israel to scale back the intensity of its fight, after national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters the White House has discussed with Israeli officials the possibility of ratcheting down its battles.

“I want them to be focused on how to save civilian lives. Not stop going after Hamas, but be more careful,” Biden said.

Kirby told reporters earlier Thursday that national security adviser Jake Sullivan spoke with Israeli leaders about “progress in the war and where the Israelis think it’s going to go” during a visit Thursday to Tel Aviv. The trip comes as Israel’s defense minister suggested that the war, which began in the wake of Hamas’s brutal attack on Israel on Oct. 7, would go on for months.

The New York Times reported, citing four U.S. officials, that the Biden administration has relayed that it would like to see Israel conclude its large-scale ground campaign in Gaza around the end of the year and transition to a more targeted strategy.

Israel has carried out airstrikes and military operations in the Gaza Strip, which is controlled by Hamas, that have left thousands of Palestinians dead.

The White House has been steadfast in its support of Israel, providing additional resources and arguing the country has a right to defend itself against Hamas. But Biden administration officials have also recently expressed concerns about the civilian toll in Gaza, while rejecting calls from some progressives and activists for a cease-fire.

Biden warned this week that Israel could lose international support because of the “indiscriminate bombing that takes place.”

The comments showed there may be cracks between leaders in the U.S. and Israel as the country carries out its counterattacks and bristles at the prospect of a future two-state solution.