In the most public sign of division between the leaders so far, US President Joe Biden has said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu needed to change his hardline government and that ultimately Israel “can’t say no” to an independent Palestinian state — something that Israeli hardliners oppose.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan will travel to Israel this week and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will visit the Middle East next week, Reuters reports.

Biden said Sullivan will emphasise the US commitment to Israel as well as the need to protect civilian lives in Gaza.

The conflict has also led to starvation, displaced 85 per cent of the population from their homes and caused diseases to spread, according to the UN and Gaza health ministry.