In an interview published this weekend in the New York Times, the US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken He revealed a disturbing insight into the main obstacle on the way to an agreement to release the abductees from Gaza. According to him, “Every time there is a public distance between the United States and Israel, and the feeling that the pressure on Israel is increasing – Hamas withdraws from its agreement to a ceasefire and the release of hostages.”
Despite this understanding, the conduct of the Biden administration since the single hostage deal in November 2023 raises significant questions, as argued today (Monday) in an editorial by the Wall Street Journal. the president Joe Biden Consistently demonstrated a “public distance” from Israel, while limiting its actions, condemning it and demanding an end to its defensive war. These moves were intended to appease the anti-Israel supporter base in his party ahead of the 2024 elections, but as Blinken pointed out, the message also reached Hamas.
On November 30, 2023, Blinken set new rules for Israel’s way of fighting – fundamentally different from the strategy that led to the agreement in Gaza. On December 12, Biden accused Israel of “indiscriminate bombing,” a claim that was belied by evidence, while conveying a message to Israel to “move to the next phase” with fewer forces.
As pressure mounted on Israel, Hamas concluded that there was no need to release the hostages because the US would force Israel to end the war. In February, the administration pushed for the creation of a Palestinian state, created a sanctions regime against Israel and added new conditions for arms transfers. Biden described the Israeli war effort as “excessive” and defined the settlements as illegal.
In recent months, American criticism has intensified with the call of the Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer To topple the Israeli government, and the placing of a “red line” by Biden regarding entry into Rafah. The president even publicly threatened to stop the supply of ammunition to Israel – a threat that was later realized.
The editorial emphasized that since the US elections, there has been a change in the administration’s tone. Instead of continuing to complain about its failure to stop Israel, the Biden team took credit for Israel’s achievements. Biden, who pushed for “calm down” throughout the conflict, boasted in December that ” Changed the balance of power in the Middle East.”