As the one-year anniversary of Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel resonates, the turbulence and increasing appeals for a cease-fire around the globe augments rather than abate. Thousands of innocent lives have been extinguished in the ensuing warfare. In the Gaza Strip, Israel’s military excursions have pushed rundown regions toward starvation and contagion, as their unyielding pursuit to eradicate Hamas extremists continues.
Despite fleeting periods of calm, for instance, the short-lived cease-fire experienced last November, the elusive peace between the battling factions remains a distant dream. One can’t help but question the effectiveness of the international community and superpowers like America in bridging this gap and facilitating meaningful negotiations.
In a unique stance that seemed misaligned with the ongoing crises and less popular among many, President Joe Biden opined last year in the Oval Office, saying, ‘We cannot give up on a two-state solution’. Biden’s steadfast insistence on the safety and dignity of both Israel and Palestinians, claiming there being no higher priority than the safety of ‘American hostages’, seemed like yet another attempt to appear as an international peacemaker.
The escalation of the conflict and the ensuing humanitarian disaster have sometimes estranged Israel on the global stage. Further challenging Israel are Iran-supported factions such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Houthi insurgents in Yemen, along with direct aerial attacks from Iran, all of which are possibly fueling a full-scale war in the Middle East.
While Biden professes he and his colleagues are in talks with Israeli authorities to reach an agreement, he quite conveniently displays a lack of confidence in Netanyahu’s commitment. The suggestion that Netanyahu might be refraining from making decisions to manipulate public sentiment for the imminent general election is evidence of Biden’s skepticism.
In a seemingly contradictory stance, Biden and his Vice President Kamala Harris have expressed support for Israel while concurrently pressuring the country for a cease-fire and to restrict civilian casualties. It’s worth noting the questionable consistency of this stance, especially given the enormous toll the conflict has on the ground.
Interestingly, Harris has endorsed a two-state solution, aligning her views with Biden’s. The lack of clarity in their stance is leading to criticism from various quarters, primarily due to the escalation in violence and stagnation in peace efforts.
In a profound departure from the Biden-Harris duo, former President Donald Trump maintained a clarity on his position. Unlike his successors, Trump did not waver in his support for Israel and its right to protect itself. Such a stand, although starkly different from the present administration, resonated strongly with several Americans.