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It took a clear commitment from his Israeli counterpart to open Gaza to humanitarian aid for President Joe Biden to agree to make the extraordinary trip to Tel Aviv.
High-level diplomacy with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shows the delicate balance Biden is striking as he embarks on a last-minute visit to the war front.
At stake are the lives of millions of civilians, including Americans, currently trapped in the coastal Palestinian enclave, where a humanitarian crisis is unfolding as Israeli troops mass on its borders ahead of an expected ground invasion.
Although there was no clear condition from the US that Israel not launch its occupation until Biden leaves the region, that is the understanding among US officials who have spent the past few days debating and planning the president's visit.
US officials want the humanitarian plans for Gaza to be fully signed off and implemented before the occupation begins, the sources said, describing the task as one of Biden's main objectives during his visit to Tel Aviv on Wednesday.
While Biden has not encouraged a ceasefire — the word has not been used at all in the administration's response so far — he has repeatedly issued stronger warnings about protecting civilian life, including during his phone conversations with Netanyahu.
Traveling in person to Israel could offer Biden — who scorns Zoom calls and has long championed the importance of face-to-face meetings — a better opportunity to convey those views to his Israeli counterpart, a leader with whom he believes he has a deep understanding.
Ultimately, Biden and his top aides believe they need to be in the room with Netanyahu to influence the prime minister and his team.
But they are also aware that public support for Israel will not last forever, especially if civilians in Gaza bear the brunt of Israel's response to Hamas attacks — requiring a degree of calibration from the president.
It's a stance that one official called an effort to "hug them close" and give them support during the difficult period ahead. / CNN
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