The US State Department has said it does not support a ground offensive in Gaza’s Rafah, warning that, if not properly planned, such an operation risks “disaster”.

According to AFP, the United States is Israel’s main international backer, providing it with billions of dollars in military aid.

But in a sign of his growing frustration with Israel’s leadership, President Joe Biden issued his strongest criticism yet of the conduct of the offensive, describing the retaliation for Hamas’ October 7 attack as going too far.

“I’m of the view, as you know, that the conduct of the response in Gaza, in the Gaza Strip, has been over the top,” the US president said.

“There are a lot of innocent people who are starving… in trouble and dying, and it’s got to stop.”