The conflict in Gaza has persisted for over half a year, with one prominent factor being the evolving stance of the United States. Initially, over the first two months, the U.S. staunchly supported Israel across diplomatic, political, security, and military fronts, aligning with Israel’s aim to dismantle Hamas’s rule in Gaza. Notably, U.S officials – chef among them the U.S President Joe Biden – echoed Israel’s military objectives. However, as time elapsed, a shift occurred in the Biden administration’s approach, increasingly favoring engagement with Hamas at Israel’s national security expense.
This shift was evident in mounting pressure on Israel to facilitate greater humanitarian aid, both in terms of quantity and variety, and to permit other nations to contribute aid, including via airdrops over Gaza. Furthermore, the Biden administration urged Israel to expedite hostage negotiations while pushing for a ceasefire.
Tensions peaked when the White House issued a formal statement warning of a potential “policy shift” if Israel failed to heed U.S. demands. Additionally, the U.S. abstained from vetoing a Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire, decoupled from the hostage situation.
Despite these warnings, it’s evident that U.S. policy has De Facto undergone a significant transformation since the conflict’s onset, with the latest threat of U.S policy chenge toward the Gaza war serving as a potential consequence for noncompliance.
The current American policy in Gaza contradicts Israel’s war objectives, which the American government initially agreed upon. This policy also goes against American national interests. It appears that the Biden administration is prioritizing the dangerous idea of establishing a Palestinian terrorist state in the heart of Israel, while placing Israel at great risk of continued terrorist attacks, potentially more severe than the Hamas attack on October 7th.
Firstly, the pressure exerted by the United States on Israel to reduce military power in Gaza and to assist the population supporting terror allows the survival and existence of Hamas, and strengthens Hamas’ refusal to release the captives, including six captives holding American citizenship.
There is no reason for Hamas to show flexibility and agree to a deal on captives when it understands that the American government is playing into its hands, supporting its goals indirectly. The American demand to avoid military operations in Rafah to destroy the last Hamas division in the area is the most glaring example of the U.S. preferring the principle of alleged “human rights” over doing everything possible to release its citizens from captivity and eliminate the Hamas terror organization.
The current American policy in Gaza is also at odds with the fundamental American principle of the global war on terrorism. Over the past decades, the United States has engaged in conflicts against various terrorist organizations worldwide. These conflicts have resulted in the loss of many civilians lives. For instance, in the Iraq War from 2003 to 2010, over 100,000 civilians were killed (excluding terrorist operatives). Similarly, in the Afghanistan War from 2011 to 2021, over 45,000 civilians lost their lives. In the battle for Mosul alone, during the campaign against the “Islamic State,” an estimated 9,000-11,000 civilians were killed.
Despite these tragic losses, the United States remained committed to its military objectives, highlighting the importance placed on combating Islamic terrorism.
While there are parallels between the American military’s campaign against global terrorism and Israel’s efforts to combat terrorism in Gaza, Israel’s struggle presents a unique challenge in the history of warfare. Engaging in combat within such densely populated terrain, amidst a labyrinth of hundreds of kilometers of interconnected underground tunnels, stands unparalleled in history.
History has never seen combat in such densely urban populated areas and terrains, which include a network of hundreds of kilometers of underground terror tunnels.
Nevertheless, Israel remains steadfast in its commitment to minimizing harm to civilian populations. The ratio between the casualties of terrorists and civilians stands at approximately 1.5 civilians to one terrorist, based on data from the Gaza Ministry of Health – which is under Hamas control and often utilized for propaganda purposes. So there is good reason to assume that the objective data is much more positive in favor of civilian life. This contrasts sharply with the global fight against terrorism, where the ratio is reported to be 9 civilians to one terrorist, according to UN data from 2021.
If the American administration genuinely supports Israel’s military objectives and aims to secure the release of its citizens held captive by Hamas, it must afford Israel the latitude and flexibility to apply significant military pressure on Hamas. This pressure could compel Hamas to release the abductees. Subsequently, the U.S. should allow Israel the freedom of actions to conduct military operations in Rafah, targeting the complete dismantling of Hamas’s military and governmental infrastructure.
The article was originally published on ynetnews
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the movement
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