US shrugs off Gaza escalation - drifting further away from allies

August 8, 2025

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's declaration of Israel's intent to take control of the Gaza Strip has met with a notably indifferent response from the Trump administration, marking a shift in US policy. While President Trump has stated it's "pretty much up to Israel" and Ambassador Mike Huckabee emphasized it's not America's job to dictate Israel's actions, this stance contrasts with previous US involvement in Gaza's future and efforts to broker a ceasefire. The Trump administration had been optimistic about peace negotiations as recently as early July, but talks collapsed by the end of the month with Trump accusing Hamas of not wanting a deal.

Who is affected

Palestinian residents of Gaza
Israeli citizens and military forces
Hamas members and leadership
Remaining hostages captured by Hamas in the October 7, 2023 attack
International allies of the US (France, UK, Canada) who have taken a different diplomatic approach

What action is being taken

Israel is preparing to take control of Gaza City and implementing "Israeli security control in the Gaza Strip"
The Trump administration is maintaining a position of non-intervention regarding Israel's plans for Gaza
US officials are distancing themselves from direct involvement in dictating Israel's actions
France, the UK, and Canada are recognizing a Palestinian state as diplomatic pressure on Israel

Why it matters

Netanyahu's plan represents a significant escalation in the Gaza conflict
The US stance marks a notable shift from previous policy positions where America was more actively involved in outlining views on Gaza's future
The diplomatic gap between the US and its allies on this issue creates international tension
The collapse of ceasefire negotiations indicates peace is "further away than ever"
Israel may be embarking on a military occupation path that will be difficult to reverse

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC