White House pressed Israel during bombing pause to change its strategy

The White House allegedly pressured Israel to adjust its strategy during a proposed 72-hour ceasefire in the summer of 2014 as Israeli forces bombed targets inside the Gaza Strip during the Gaza War. According to media reports, President Barack Obama’s national security advisors urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to scale back the scope of the operation and focus on a longer-term solution that aimed at weakening Hamas and other militant groups in the area. They urged Israeli forces to control their fire and to focus on restricting Hamas’ ability to rearm rather than engaging in brinkmanship or hitting symbolic targets.