**Biden Statements Spark Debate on Shrinking Global Support for Occupation**
US President Joe Biden’s recent criticisms of the Netanyahu government and his emphasis on the need for changes in its composition to facilitate a political solution represent a clear expression of the recent rift between the state of occupation and its staunchest ally, the United States. The US stance since the outset of “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood,” launched by the Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, against the besieged Gaza forces, has been one of unprecedented, unlimited, and unconditional support for the state of occupation. The US engagement in the war, both directly and indirectly, was profound. The US support went as far as managing the war alongside the occupation militarily and politically: militarily with aircraft carriers in the region, supplying Israel with all kinds of weapons, deploying the Delta Force to join efforts to free captives, and participating in reconnaissance and espionage efforts over Gaza.
As the battle prolonged and the numbers of martyrs and wounded civilians soared, alongside the destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure in wartime crimes committed by the occupation, reports indicated that Washington had set a deadline for Netanyahu to end the war by the start of the new year. Politically, the US offered backing to the occupation on one hand and regulated the positions of Arab and regional sides on the other, through several visits by Secretary of State Antony Blinken to the region.
From the outset, the US administration adopted the Israeli narrative regarding the operations on October 7th, which included falsehoods about beheadings of children and the rape of women. At times, the Biden administration even appeared more hawkish than Netanyahu himself, demanding a decisive and robust reaction against Hamas and repeatedly rejecting ceasefire propositions for the benefit of Hamas.
Most recently, U.S. positions shielded occupation crimes in Gaza, with repeated vetoes within the Security Council, including against a resolution calling “for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza on humanitarian grounds”, which was introduced last Friday, December 8th.
Biden’s statements noted Israel’s declining global support due to its indiscriminate bombing of Gaza, which has claimed thousands of Palestinian civilian lives. He criticized Netanyahu’s tough governance and insinuated that his government, the “most extreme in Israel’s history,” is averse to the two-state solution. Biden expressed concerns for the literal safety of the Jewish people, asserting that the government composition should change to pursue a long-term solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The significance of Biden’s remarks is amplified by their timing, as they were made during a fundraising event for his campaign held at a White House reception on a Jewish holiday, and were met with notable applause from attendees. His comments followed Netanyahu’s acknowledgment of differences with the U.S. administration regarding the “day after Hamas” and his insistence on not repeating the “mistake of Oslo.”
Since the aggression began, the United States has agreed with the occupation government on the need to confront Hamas in Gaza and has provided all manner of declared and undeclared support to Netanyahu. Differences over managing the aftermath of the war became apparent as Netanyahu insisted on reoccupying Gaza, while Washington emphasized the importance of a two-state resolution. Biden’s remarks crystallize and make public the disagreements between the two sides.
Biden’s pronouncements coincided with a joint statement from Canada, Australia, and New Zealand endorsing “urgent international efforts to achieve a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.” The prime ministers of the three nations expressed their concerns over the shrinking safe spaces for civilians in Gaza, stating that ongoing civilian suffering cannot be the price for defeating Hamas.
This shifting stance clearly indicates a crack in the previously unconditional support for Netanyahu and suggests that the timeline for Netanyahu and his government is no longer open-ended. The political shield that protected him from criticism has notably fractured. Although the war may not necessarily be over, these indications point to its final stages, highlighting Netanyahu’s untenable position to continue without field achievements, lacking international support, particularly from the U.S., amid growing internal criticism.
Biden’s statements implicitly recognize the failure of the Israeli aggression on Gaza to achieve Netanyahu’s objectives, the inability to subdue, much less end, the Palestinian resistance led by Hamas, suggesting the terms imposed by Netanyahu regarding full reoccupation are untenable.
Despite the potential for a ceasefire, the battle may shift gears and move on to new phases such as negotiations over prisoners and reconstruction—a field where the Palestinian resistance is likely to face unprecedented pressures to concede political ground that does not match its distinguished field performance in exchange for the guarantee of reconstruction efforts.
The resiliency shown in resisting the occupation has started yielding fruits by shaking the opposing front, despite severe sacrifices. Continued perseverance promises to complete the victory against the occupation government, eventually leading to an official failure to achieve its aggression’s declared and undisclosed aims. Biden’s comments therefore hint at the diminishing international support for the occupation, revealing a timeline for Netanyahu’s government that is no longer limitless, and a political defense creaking under significant scrutiny.
