US loses patience with Israel as Biden pressures Netanyahu for Gaza ceasefire

Washington intensifies calls for an end to hostilities

A Palestinian man carries his daughter next to a destroyed tower, following Israeli air strikes in Gaza city. EPA

Rockets are launched towards Israel from Gaza city. AFP

A Palestinian man stands next to his destroyed house after Israeli air strikes in Gaza city. EPA

Palestinian demonstrators clash with Israeli troops at the Hawara checkpoint south of Nablus city, in the occupied West Bank. AFP

A Palestinian protester collects stones amid clashes with Israeli security forces near the settlement of Beit El and Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. AFP

Palestinian firefighters work to extinguish a fire at a paint factory after it was hit by an Israeli air strike in Rafah, Gaza Strip. AP Photo

An Israeli soldier works at an artillery unit near the border between Israel and the Gaza strip, on the Israeli side. Reuters

Israeli relatives attend the funeral of Yigal Yehoshua in the city of Modiin. The Israeli man, 56, who was beaten in the city of Lod, died in hospital, police said. AFP

Israeli soldiers fire a 155mm self-propelled howitzer towards the Gaza Strip from their position along the border. AFP

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell urges President Biden to 'remain strong' in support of Israel's military campaign against Hamas. EPA

Eritrean asylum seeker Kahase Gerensae and his children take shelter in the stairwell outside their apartment in Ashdod, Israel, during a siren warning of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip. AP Photo

Palestinians walk among the rubble of a destroyed building after Israeli air strikes in Gaza city. EPA

A Palestinian child, who was wounded in overnight Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip, receives treatment at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza city. Getty Images

Suzy Ishkontana, 7, and her father Riad Ishkontana, 42, survived an Israeli air strike that killed their family and destroyed their home. AP Photo

In his fourth call to Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since violence erupted in Gaza this month, US President Joe Biden left no ambiguity.

Unlike previous discussions between the two leaders, the conversation on Wednesday included a call for a ceasefire and a timeline in which to achieve it.

“The president conveyed to the prime minister that he expected a significant de-escalation today on the path to a ceasefire,” the White House said.

In parallel with Mr Biden’s push, US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin held his third call on Wednesday with his Israeli counterpart Benny Gantz. The message from the Pentagon also focused on de-escalation.

“Secretary Austin underscored his continued support for Israel’s right to defend itself, reviewed assessments of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and urged de-escalation of the conflict,” the statement said.

The change in tone and sense of urgency from Washington come as Mr Netanyahu works to stall ceasefire talks, regional sources told The National.

Mr Netanyahu told foreign ambassadors "You can either conquer them, and that's always an open possibility, or you can deter them, and we are engaged right now in forceful deterrence"

"But I have to say we don't rule out anything."

But with pressure from Congress on the White House increasing and fear inside the US military about further instability in the region, calls for a ceasefire have intensified.

France presented a draft resolution to the UN Security Council on Tuesday calling for a ceasefire, adding impetus to the Biden team to reach the goal before it comes to a vote.

Ghaith Al Omari, a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said the French proposal could increase US leverage.

"There are many leverage points for the Biden team and one of the strongest ones is Netanyahu's desire not to have a conflictual relationship with another US president," Mr Al Omari told The National.

As to the UN’s actions and Mr Biden’s blocking, three times,  a statement calling for ceasefire, the expert said it is in Israel’s interest to maintain this support.

“The US has so far shielded Israel in the [Security Council]. As action – like the French draft – starts, Israel would want to maintain US support and will be careful not to clash with Washington.”

The four calls from Mr Biden to Israel, he said, “green-light wider international diplomatic action” if no ceasefire is reached beforehand.

The US has been working behind the scenes to works towards a cessation of hostilities, reaching out to Gulf allies, Morocco, France and Germany to help with reconstruction after the ceasefire, while leaning heavily on Egypt and Jordan to broker an end to the fighting.

Regional sources are still hopeful that a ceasefire – or at least a 48-hour truce – could be achieved soon, but only if the US exercises its leverage and brings Israel on board.