US's Israel Balancing Act Gets Harder as Gaza Offensive Grows

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government quickly obliged, even as Israeli tanks and troops pushed into the enclave in the opening assaults of its ground invasion.

After internet and mobile phone service abruptly disappeared in the Gaza Strip on Friday, US officials gave Israel a quiet but clear message: Get the networks up and running again. The Israel-Hamas war has entered a new phaseJoin our team of global reporters and editors as they break down what that means - and what comes next #ThePoliticsSpacehttps://t.co/gFE5nh9w9G

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government quickly obliged, even as Israeli tanks and troops pushed into the enclave in the opening assaults of its ground invasion. 

For the US administration, the episode was the latest example of how combining full-on public support of Israel with softer but still insistent signals on protecting civilians and limiting the spread of the conflict is getting results.