U.S. Blocking Gaza Offensive?

The U.S. is requiring Israel to produce an exit plan before an entrance has been made.

When has the U.S. devised a good exit plan?

According to a high-ranking Israel Defense Forces (IDF) commander, U.S. weapons left in Afghanistan after Biden's disastrous withdrawal have ended up in the hands of Palestinian groups active in the Gaza Strip.

US President Joe Biden’s administration has privately been pressing Israel in recent days to flesh out its strategy for the day after it completes its stated war goal of toppling Hamas, a US official and an Israeli official told The Times of Israel on Monday.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his inner circle have indicated to their American counterparts that Israel has not yet come up with such a strategy and is more focused on the immediate goal of removing Hamas from power in Gaza, the US official said.

While the U.S. publicly supports Israel, is it privately acting in opposition?

Pressed for evidence that the delay and any further delay of an invasion of Gaza was not connected to Biden's visit, Hagari gave none and simply stuck with the standard line that the IDF determines its own military plans.

In contrast to Hagari's statement, there are voluminous times in history past and more recent, where Israel's government allowed US pressure to deeply influence military plans.

Alternatively, it's possible Israel has decided a ground offensive is not necessary.  A ground offensive may have been an excuse to evacuate civilians from Gaza City, enabling broader airstrikes against Hamas.  The U.S. dragging its feet might be a cover story, allowing war-fighting flexibility against Hezbollah and their backers to the north.

The Israel Defense Forces says it is carrying out new airstrikes against sites belonging to the Hezbollah terror group in southern Lebanon