As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intensifies his war in Gaza, Washington must acknowledge a stark reality: its unwavering support of Israel’s military actions is not serving U.S. interests or promoting regional stability, let alone addressing the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.
In fact, it is having the opposite effect. As long as Washington refuses to change course, the U.S. will continue to face dire consequences stemming directly from its own policies.
Netanyahu clings to the belief that Israel’s army can achieve his stated goal of eradicating Hamas in Gaza. However, as IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari recently acknowledged, “anyone who thinks we can eliminate Hamas is wrong.” Militarily, Hamas retains operational capacity and continues to launch attacks in areas of Gaza where Israel previously declared Hamas to be eliminated. U.S. intelligence assessments suggest that only 30-35% of Hamas’ military wing has been killed since October 7, while simultaneously claiming that Hamas has recruited thousands of new volunteers during the conflict. Hamas also maintains a deeply embedded presence within the political fabric of Gaza.
Israel can undoubtedly degrade Hamas’ capabilities and eliminate its leaders, but without a path towards a credible political solution, Palestinian militancy will persist. Regrettably, there are no signs of such a solution emerging. Netanyahu’s unwavering determination to move forward with a military-centric approach is exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Notably, Israel’s parliament recently passed a motion, with overwhelming support, rejecting Palestinian statehood, even within the context of a negotiated settlement with Israel. This approach is a recipe for perpetual violence.
Meanwhile, the carnage in Gaza, which Washington is financially supporting, is severely damaging America’s global standing. As many feared in the aftermath of the initial escalation, the war has escalated far beyond prevention and self-defense, drawing disturbing parallels to the U.S. response to 9/11. Israel’s military campaign is also sowing the seeds of future instability by causing widespread civilian casualties, decimating Gaza’s infrastructure, and exacerbating a humanitarian crisis leading to famine. The ramifications of this war will plague Gaza for generations, and Washington’s involvement, particularly the provision of weapons used in much of the killing, directly undermines the U.S.’ claim to lead a “liberal” or “rules-based” international order.
Finally, there is a growing risk of regional escalation and deeper direct U.S. involvement. The war has already ignited a wave of regional escalation, from Lebanon to Syria, Iraq, Egypt, and between Israel and its neighbors.
Israel and Hezbollah are on the brink of a potentially devastating war. The U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, C.Q. Brown, recently confirmed both that Iran would likely provide substantial support to Hezbollah, which possesses a vast network of tunnels that can penetrate deep into Israel, and that U.S. forces in the region could be drawn into that conflict. Such a war would be disastrous for U.S. interests and Middle East stability. The risks of a wider regional war, and direct U.S. involvement, will remain elevated as long as Israel’s military campaign in Gaza persists.
Short of direct military intervention, the U.S. has thrown its full weight of political, economic, and military power behind Israel. By casting vetoes at the U.N. Security Council, authorizing over 100 arms transfers worth more than $41 billion, providing roughly $15 billion in additional military aid, and overseeing a significant U.S. military buildup in the Middle East, the Biden Administration has placed the U.S. at the center of Israel’s war in Gaza.
American foreign policy in the Middle East has been deeply flawed for decades, and the entrenched “special relationship” between the U.S. and Israel is at the heart of that flawed regional strategy. Washington’s reflexive support of Israel has hampered its ability to think critically about the Middle East, a region that has diminished strategic importance to the U.S., given America’s energy independence. At a time when the U.S. finds itself overextended abroad and grappling with serious political and economic challenges at home, Washington is blindly following Israel deeper into a dangerous abyss.
Is there a glimmer of hope? After Biden announced his intention to run for re-election, Vice President Kamala Harris has emerged as the Democratic frontrunner and has an opportunity to reshape U.S. policy towards the Middle East. While Harris has urged Israel to do more to address the “immense scale of suffering” in Gaza, she has remained steadfast in her support for Israel, mirroring Biden’s approach. Rhetorical gestures without concrete policy changes are insufficient. Moreover, a Trump victory would likely offer no respite given his unwavering support for Tel Aviv and his previous assertion that he would allow Israel to “finish the job” in Gaza.
Although the future of the White House remains uncertain, it should be unequivocally clear to all that by continuing to financially support Israel’s war in Gaza, the U.S. is setting itself, and the entire Middle East, on a path towards disaster. Washington must end its bipartisan, unconditional support for Israel and extricate itself from this tragic situation.