Under increasing political pressure in the US, the Biden administration is pushing Israel to move into a new phase in its war against Hamas in Gaza.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is travelling to Israel to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to push for Israeli leaders to “scale back” the war.

President Joe Biden has been under increasing political pressure – especially from the left of the Democrat Party – to pull back on support for Israel.

The Biden administration has remained firmly pro-Israel in supporting its military campaign against Hamas, but increasingly, the progressive left of the United States has been highly pro-Palestine and critical of the US’ stance on the war.

This is starting to become an issue for President Biden as he seeks re-election in 2024.