President Trump is giving a tacit green light for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take over the Gaza Strip, framing the move as an Israeli-owned decision amid a global outcry and growing calls in the U.S. to rein in Netanyahu.

Trump has committed to taking the lead on humanitarian-aid distribution in the strip amid famine-like conditions for a population enduring a catastrophic humanitarian crisis.

But he’s refrained from criticizing Israel’s plans to escalate the war by expanding its military control of the Gaza Strip, even as international allies speak out against the operation.

“I know that we are there now trying to get people fed… As far as the rest of it, I really can't say. That's going to be pretty much up to Israel,” Trump said earlier this week when asked about Netanyahu’s plan.

Netanyahu’s decision, approved in a security cabinet vote overnight between Thursday and Friday, is worsening deep divisions in Israeli society, pitting the military against the government, and isolating Israel from European and Arab and Gulf partners.

Germany on Friday announced it would halt military exports to Israel that can be used in the Gaza Strip. This follows France, Canada and the United Kingdom expressing their intent to recognize an independent Palestinian state, a move vehemently opposed by Israel, which argues it rewards Hamas for launching its Oct. 7, 2023 terrorist attack.

Underscoring British concern, the U.K. initiated an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting for Saturday to discuss Israel’s plan to take over Gaza.

“There's a lot of common objectives here. There is some, I think, disagreement about how exactly to accomplish those common objectives,” Vice President Vance said Friday, while meeting with British Foreign Minister David Lammy, when asked about whether the U.S. was given a heads up on Netanyahu’s plan.

Netanyahu is pushing back against international blowback. On Friday, the Israeli leader

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