In recent days, the tone of President Joe Biden and his team regarding the Israel-Hamas crisis has shifted. They’ve moved from strong support for Israel to emphasizing the need to protect Palestinian civilians in Gaza, especially in light of a possible Israeli ground invasion.
It’s important to note that President Biden still believes that Israel has the right and responsibility to defend itself, particularly after the October 7 attack by Hamas operatives that killed 1,400 people in southern Israel.
However, several factors have contributed to this change in tone. The rising number of Palestinian casualties, the difficulty of freeing hostages held by Hamas, and growing pressure from Arab nations, European allies, and some Americans have led the Biden administration to support a humanitarian pause in Israel’s actions and focus on providing aid to Palestinians.
This shift is based on the worsening humanitarian crisis on the ground in Gaza and conversations with other countries. It’s a response to the changing circumstances and the potential for a major catastrophe if Israel launches a significant campaign in Gaza.
President Biden’s evolving stance can also be attributed to his 2024 reelection bid, pressure from some supporters to back Palestinians, and advice from former President Barack Obama, who cautioned that Israel’s actions could have long-lasting consequences.
Israeli officials and their U.S. supporters have expressed concern that the longer the situation continues, the more the world’s attention will shift to the impact of the Israeli assault in Gaza.
Biden’s team is encouraging Israeli officials to carefully consider their exit strategy before a full-scale ground invasion to avoid potential pitfalls. U.S. military advisers are cautioning about the challenging terrain and the risks to both Israeli soldiers and Gaza civilians in the event of an invasion.
President Obama has also weighed in, warning that cutting off food and water to Gaza could have lasting effects on Palestinian attitudes.
The shift in U.S. policy has been rapid, with a growing emphasis on a humanitarian pause to allow aid into Gaza and people to leave. This shift follows international calls for such a pause and appeals from U.N. organizations for humanitarian access.
President Biden’s recent remarks reflect this change in direction, emphasizing the need to protect innocent civilians and calling for efforts toward a peace accord between Israel and a future Palestinian state. However, he still expresses strong support for Israel and questions the Palestinian death toll estimates.
