The Biden administration was quick to criticize a recent report that cautioned about potential famine in the northern region of Gaza. Marking a stark contrast to the previous election cycle’s outcomes, Biden and his team appear to direct their scathing rebuke specifically at delineations of famine within Gaza, primarily due to the following contentions raised by the report.
The Famine Early Warning Systems Network— an independently established organization substantially backed by the United States government—alleged a crisis scenario, according to which some 65,000-75,000 individuals are severely lacking in substantial food supplies. The network ambitiously argued that a mass starvation crisis has been induced in northern Gaza due to ‘Israel’s almost complete blockade of humanitarian and commercial food supplies’. This statement provides ammunition for individuals with an anti-Israel sentiment for making baseless claims of ‘genocide’ committed by Israel.
Howbeit, such a ‘near-total blockade’ does not and never has existed, contrary to these outlandish allegations. Indeed, both Israeli and United Nations estimates contradict FEWS NET alert’s speculative numbers, marking the actual population of northern Gaza at under 15,000 people, none of whom are suffering from starvation.
The network’s alerts were thus decried by the USAID spokesperson as relying ‘on outdated population estimates, and having methodological limitations based on the availability of data’. Such erroneous alerts only serve to inflame tensions during a time when the accurate relay of information is paramount to prevent misunderstanding and unfounded fingers being pointed.
Shocking statements came through when the US Ambassador to Israel, Jack Lew, called out this information unintentionally casting aspersions, labeling it an act of irresponsibility to publish a report swimming in inaccuracies. Other instances of such misleading reports have also been traced back to the same network earlier this year, sparking unnecessary panic over a fabricated famine situation.
However, despite these contrary facts, the Biden-Harris administration seemingly does not hesitate in leaping aboard the bandwagon criticizing Israel’s intense response to Hamas’ warfare. One can’t help but wonder if these condemnations serve more to appease pro-Hamas constituents, rather than addressing the actual on-ground realities.
Pushing their biases a step further, on the brink of the recent elections, the Biden team threatened to thwart additional arms shipments to Israel unless it yielded to receive more aid. Threats of this Nature do nothing more than embolden Israel’s adversaries, including Iran and Hamas.
The brutal realities of war mean that Gazans will inevitably struggle to find sufficient food supplies, more so due to Hamas’s infamous penchant for pilfering aid shipments. Therefore, it’s pertinent to note that the answer doesn’t lie in castigating Israel and peddling recommendations for it to cease its attempts at eradicating Hamas.
Instead, Biden, and his deputy Kamala Harris, spent the bulk of their tenure promoting this particular narrative. The real solution should focus on bolstering Israel in its efforts to swiftly root out these terrorists.
If the Biden team had initially taken a stand against the reports falsely claiming instances of famine and ‘genocide’ and bolstered Israel’s defensive war unequivocally, the ongoing strife may have reached its conclusion by this stage.
A new administration is slated to assume office shortly, ushering in novel promises and approaches. It seems likely, then, that Washington will cease attempts at placating Israel’s adversaries, including their propaganda-heavy alliances.
Such empty rhetoric and misleading data contribute to misguiding public sentiment, perpetuating half-truths, and sowing further discord, which only serves to fuel this ongoing crisis. Officials need to base their actions on trusted sources and real-time data, rather than accommodating political biases or succumbing to widespread disinformation.
To call out politically charged disinformation requires courage and integrity – virtues that have been conspicuously absent from both Biden and Harris’ campaign. Every baseless claim that’s been supported rides roughshod over reality, and consequentially, over the people who suffer on the ground.
Actions should always strive to be proactive, prioritizing conflict resolution over appeasing radical elements. Admittedly, navigating this geopolitical minefield calls for judiciousness, and not a fervent drive to pander to certain beliefs.
By continuing to use inflammatory and inaccurate information as leverage in political maneuverings, the Biden-Harris administration fails to do their duty in preventing further escalation of the situation. The need of the hour is visionary leadership that places unraveling truth before political agendas.