2023-12-06 15:07:37
US President Joe Biden refrained from making any statements about the expansion of Israel’s ground offensive into southern Gaza and instead strongly condemned Hamas’ violence against women on October 7th. But government members and officials are becoming more direct in their calls for more to be done to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The New York Times (“NYT”) referred to these differences in tone and word choice as “good cop, bad cop” diplomacy.
The White House is “deeply concerned” about how Israeli operations will develop in the next few weeks, CNN quoted a senior US official as saying. Not enough is being done to transport aid supplies to the Gaza Strip, warned US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.
More humanitarian support called for
Most recently, Vice President Kamala Harris also called for Israel to do more “to protect innocent civilians.” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized that it was essential for the US to ensure that the “massive loss of civilian life and displacement (…) in the South should not be repeated.”
Former special envoy for the Middle East, Martin Indyk, spoke to the “NYT” of a “carefully calibrated public campaign”. It arose out of concern that the message would not be received privately. Biden wants to avoid criticizing Netanyahu in public as much as possible.
Archyde.com/Ahmed Zakot The Israeli army shifted the focus of the ground offensive to Khan Yunis in southern Gaza
The window of opportunity for support is shrinking
Biden’s previous strategy of supporting Israel’s right to self-defense is also coming under pressure in the USA. Officials admit that this prevented Israel from expanding the war to include Hezbollah in Lebanon. In addition, the Gaza Strip was forced to open up to humanitarian aid.
But the window of opportunity for public support for Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip is shrinking. Even within his own party, the left wing of the Democrats, Biden is confronted with accusations of enabling the killing of numerous civilians.
debate
How does October 7th change the Middle East?
“How do you, on the one hand, allow a sovereign nation like Israel to fight terrorist targets and, on the other hand, get them to do so in a way that minimizes harm to civilians?” That is “the real question,” said Jake Sullivan , National Security Advisor at the White House.
UN warns of atrocities
There is also increasing international criticism of Israel’s approach and US support. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stressed in a phone call with Netanyahu on Wednesday that it was important to minimize civilian casualties in the conflict with Hamas.
UN human rights chief Volker Türk warned on Wednesday of an increased risk of atrocities in the Gaza Strip: “Urgent measures must be taken, both by the parties concerned and by all states, especially those with influence, to prevent such crimes.”
Jan Egeland, head of the NGO Norwegian Refugee Council, went one step further: Countries that support Israel with weapons have a “permanent stain on their reputation.” He condemned the October 7 attack by Hamas and called for the release of the hostages. Israel’s military campaign “can in no way be described as self-defense.”
Robinson: Support for Israel requires conditions
Former UN human rights commissioner Mary Robinson, head of The Elders, a group founded by Nelson Mandela in 2007, is also calling on countries providing military aid to Israel to review it and set conditions. This particularly affects the USA.
If that doesn’t happen, the US will be responsible for the problem and will be linked to many deaths, she told CNN. Israel’s “disproportionate response” has reached a level of inhumanity towards the Palestinians in Gaza that is no longer acceptable.
Archyde.com/Mohammed Salem Aid organizations see little opportunity to help all those seeking protection
“Apocalyptic” conditions in southern Gaza
Israel’s ground offensive, which was expanded to the south of the Palestinian territory, triggered a new mass exodus. Aid organizations are sounding the alarm: There are not enough safe zones for everyone seeking protection. The UN Palestinian Relief Agency (UNRWA) said there was a lack of funds to provide the necessary support.
The Israeli offensive in the south is as devastating as in the north of the Gaza Strip and is creating “apocalyptic” conditions, said UN emergency coordinator Martin Griffiths, saying he was speaking on behalf of the entire international aid community. Any possibility of meaningful humanitarian measures is lost.
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