The war in Gaza has persisted for over half a year, with one prominent factor being the evolving stance of the United States. Initially, over the first two months, the U.S. staunchly supported Israel across diplomatic, political, security and military fronts, aligning with Israel's aim to dismantle Hamas' rule in Gaza. Notably, U.S. officials – chief among them President Joe Biden - echoed Israel's military objectives.
However, as time elapsed, a shift occurred in the Biden administration's approach, increasingly favoring engagement with Hamas at Israel's national security expense.
This shift was evident in mounting pressure on Israel to facilitate greater humanitarian aid, both in terms of quantity and variety, and to permit other nations to contribute aid, including via airdrops over Gaza. Furthermore, the Biden administration urged Israel to expedite hostage negotiations while pushing for a cease-fire.
Tensions peaked when the White House issued a formal statement warning of a potential "policy shift" if Israel failed to heed U.S. demands. Additionally, the U.S. abstained from vetoing a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for a cease-fire, decoupled from the hostage situation.
Despite these warnings, it's evident that U.S. policy has de facto undergone a significant transformation since the onset of the campaign, with the latest threat of U.S. policy change toward the Gaza war serving as a potential consequence for noncompliance.
The current American policy in Gaza contradicts Israel's war objectives, which the American government initially agreed upon. This policy also goes against American national interests. It appears that the Biden administration is prioritizing the dangerous idea of establishing a Palestinian terrorist state in the heart of Israel, while placing Israel at great risk of continued terrorist attacks, potentially more severe than the Hamas attack on October 7.
Firstly, the pressure exerted by the United States on Israel to scale back its military actions in Gaza and to support the terror-supporting population allows Hamas to survive and strengthens its refusal to release the hostages, including six American citizens.
There is no reason for Hamas to show flexibility and agree to a hostage deal when it sees the American government playing into its hands, supporting its goals indirectly. The American demand to avoid a ground offensive in Rafah to eradicate remaining Hamas forces in the area is the most glaring example of the U.S. prioritizing so-called "human rights" over doing everything possible to release its citizens from captivity and eliminate the Hamas terror organization.
Current U.S. policy in Gaza is also at odds with the fundamental American principle of the global war on terrorism. Over the past decades, the United States has engaged in conflicts against various terrorist organizations worldwide. These conflicts have resulted in the loss of many civilian lives.
For instance, over 100,000 civilians were killed (excluding terrorist operatives) in the Iraq War from 2003 to 2010. Similarly, over 45,000 civilians lost their lives in the Afghanistan War from 2011 to 2021. An estimated 9,000-11,000 civilians were killed in the battle for Mosul alone during the campaign against Islamic State.
Despite these tragic losses, the United States remained committed to its military objectives, highlighting the importance placed on combating Islamic terrorism.
While there are parallels between the American military's campaign against global terrorism and Israel's efforts to combat terrorism in Gaza, Israel's struggle presents a unique challenge in the history of warfare. Engaging in combat within such densely populated terrain, amid a labyrinth of hundreds of kilometers of interconnected underground tunnels, stands unparalleled in history.
According to data from the Gaza Ministry of Health, which is controlled by Hamas and might be used for propaganda, the casualty ratio is approximately 1.5 civilians for every terrorist.
This suggests the actual data could be more favorable toward civilian safety. In contrast, global anti-terrorism efforts report a much higher civilian casualty ratio of 9 civilians for every terrorist, as per 2021 UN data.
Dr. Omer DostriIf the American administration genuinely supports Israel's military objectives and aims to secure the release of its citizens held captive by Hamas, it must afford Israel the latitude and flexibility to apply significant military pressure on Hamas. This pressure could compel Hamas to release the hostages.
Subsequently, the U.S. should allow Israel the freedom of action to conduct military operations in Rafah, targeting the complete dismantling of Hamas' military and governmental infrastructure.
Dr. Omer Dostri holds a Ph.D. in political studies. He is a military strategy and national security expert, and a researcher at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security (JISS) and the Israel Defense and Security Forum-Habithonistim