With Trumps Return, Netanyahu Faces Fewer Restraints On Gaza Than Ever

There was a time, not long ago, when Israel’s resumption of the war in the Gaza Strip three weeks ago — a renewed offensive that has already claimed more than a thousand casualties — would have unleashed fierce Western pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu, the country’s prime minister.The condemnations would have been swift, in public and in backroom conversations.The demands for restraint would have come from Europe and the White House, where during four years, President Joseph R.

Biden Jr.sometimes tried, and often failed, to contain Mr.

Netanyahu’s impulses.Now Mr.Biden is gone, and President Trump has made it clear that he has no intention of continuing the finger-wagging of his predecessor.

Europe is distracted by Mr.Trump’s trade war, and Mr.

Netanyahu has consolidated his coalition’s majority in Israel’s Parliament, giving him more political space to act.On Monday, Mr.Netanyahu sat next to Mr.

Trump in the Oval Office as the president lauded him as “a great leader.” The prime minister did not get relief from the 17 percent tariffs Mr.Trump said will be levied on Israel — one of the key objectives of his trip — nor did he get immediate U.S.

backing for military action on Iran’s nuclear facilities.And at times he appeared nonplused as Mr.

Trump spoke at length about trade, immigration and the U.S.economy.But on the overriding question of Israel’s renewed military campaign in Gaza, Mr.

Trump was largely quiet.He made no mention of the Israeli attack on ambulances and a fire truck that came to light last week, and that killed 15 emergency workers, or the April 3 strike that killed dozens of people, including children, in a school-turned-shelter.“I definitely think Netanyahu is trying to take advantage of what he thinks is increased room to maneuver,” said Sanam Vakil, the director of the Middle East and North Africa program at Chatham House.

She said the prime minister appeared emboldened by Mr.Trump’s silence in the face of ...