In a series of meetings with Israeli officials, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Air Force Gen. CQ Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have appealed for Israel to shift towards less intense combat operations in the Gaza Strip, according to The Wall Street Journal. The aim is to limit civilian casualties, allow humanitarian aid to reach the population, and regain international support for the effort.

The meetings are part of a broader diplomatic effort by Washington and some Middle Eastern governments to encourage Israel to begin wrapping up the most intense phase of its military operation in Gaza. The U.S. officials have privately communicated their desire to see a reduction in the scale of the fighting in a matter of weeks, rather than months, due to growing concerns about the humanitarian toll.

However, Israeli officials have shown reluctance to heed the calls for a scaled-back approach, indicating that the fighting could continue at its current level for several more months. Despite the push from the U.S. military leaders, Israel expressed its resolve to see the mission through and achieve its objectives.

Experts and analysts have expressed doubts about Israel's ability to achieve victory within the timeline set by the U.S., particularly if the intensity of the ground offensive is reduced by the end of January. Former Israeli army general Giora Eiland warned that ending the war at this stage would result in a "terrible Israeli defeat," and suggested that a shift to airstrikes and commando raids would not succeed in uprooting Hamas.

Former diplomat Alon Pinkas argued in an opinion piece for Haaretz that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is attempting to involve the U.S. in a broader conflict for his own political gain. Pinkas noted that President Joe Biden is aware of Netanyahu's strategy and is working to exert soft pressure on Israel to shift towards a low-intensity conflict. The Biden administration hopes to avoid a confrontation with Netanyahu and has refrained from demanding an immediate ceasefire.

Meanwhile, Israel's military has announced that it is adding forces to destroy tunnels and carry out targeted raids on Hamas's leadership in southern Gaza. These moves are in response to the demands of the densely populated battle zone in southern Gaza. In the north, Israel has relied more on airstrikes and holding territory, and has recently announced full operational control in the former Hamas stronghold of Jabalia.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported the launch of targeted raids in Khan Yunis, where senior Hamas leaders are believed to be hiding and hostages are still being held. The IDF discovered a weapons storage facility containing explosives, weapons, and military vests during these raids.

The situation in Gaza remains highly volatile, with Hamas continuing to launch rockets into Israeli territory, including against Tel Aviv. Hostages, including three elderly Israeli men, are still being held by Hamas, and the conflict has taken a toll on journalists working in the region, with several casualties reported.

The humanitarian aid situation has seen a significant development, with the opening of the Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and Gaza for aid trucks. This was the first time the crossing has been operational since the outbreak of the war, and it is expected to double the amount of food and medicine reaching Gaza.

On the international front, tensions between Israel and Hezbollah on the Lebanese border have intensified. Hezbollah claimed to have caused "substantial damage" to an Israeli Iron Dome air defense system, while Israel responded with attacks on Hezbollah positions. The continuous attacks by Hezbollah have raised concerns about a wider conflict.

As the Israel-Hamas war enters a critical phase, the calls from the U.S. military leaders for Israel to scale back the intensity of combat operations in Gaza underline growing international concerns about civilian casualties and the need to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the region. The response of Israeli officials remains hesitant, raising questions about the duration and outcome of the conflict.