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Foreign military assistance

Biden's Gaza Ceasefire Efforts Hobbled by Israel's Netanyahu

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

US President Joe Biden is continuing to support a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's obstruction of the negotiations. Since a week-long truce between the two parties collapsed on December 1, Biden has invested significant efforts in resurrecting a ceasefire, but his administration has failed to use its leverage to pressure Netanyahu into agreeing to a deal. Instead, the US has continued to provide military aid to Israel, including a massive $20 billion deal announced on Tuesday, which includes dozens of F-15 fighter jets, tactical vehicles, and missiles.

Key Takeaways:

  • Netanyahu has consistently defied and humiliated Biden, despite the US president's efforts to exert behind-the-scenes influence on the Israeli prime minister.
  • The Biden administration has failed to use its leverage over Netanyahu, including withholding billions of dollars in US weapons shipments and denying Israel political cover at the United Nations Security Council.
  • Since Israel launched its war on Gaza 10 months ago, nearly 40,000 Palestinians have been killed, and hundreds of thousands have been brought to the brink of starvation.
  • Researchers fear the death toll could eventually reach 186,000 due to "indirect casualties" of war, such as food shortages, a cholera epidemic, and the destruction of Gaza's health infrastructure.
  • The Biden administration has approved $20 billion in new arms sales to Israel, including dozens of F-15 fighter jets, tactical vehicles, and missiles, which will be funded by American taxpayers.
  • Netanyahu has added new conditions to the outlines of a proposal that Israel had accepted in late May, including maintaining military control of Gaza's southern border with Egypt.
  • Israeli security officials have accused Netanyahu of sabotaging the negotiations to stay in power and have leaked details of high-level security meetings to show the prime minister's obstinacy.
  • The US and other western allies continue to provide the weapons that sustain Israel's war machine, giving Netanyahu little incentive to stop the bloodshed.

Statistics:

  • $20 billion: The value of the new arms sales deal approved by the Biden administration on Tuesday.
  • 40,000: The number of Palestinians killed in Gaza since Israel launched its war on the territory 10 months ago.
  • 186,000: The projected death toll from the war, including "indirect casualties" such as food shortages, a cholera epidemic, and the destruction of Gaza's health infrastructure.
  • 10 months: The duration of the Israel-Gaza war, which has led to widespread devastation and humanitarian crisis.
  • 3.8 billion: The amount of US military aid to Israel per year.
  • 14 billion: The additional amount of US military aid to Israel approved by Congress in April.
  • 5 years: The estimated time frame for the delivery of the new F-15 fighter jets included in the $20 billion arms deal.

Sources:

  • Biden, J. (2022, December 1). US President Joe Biden Calls for Ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The New York Times.
  • Netanyahu, B. (2022, July 28). Letter to mediators on Israel's demands for a ceasefire. Channel 12.
  • Researchers, H. (2022, October 7). Gaza war may kill up to 186,000 due to "indirect casualties". The Guardian.
  • State Department (2022, Tuesday). US Approves $20 Billion in New Arms Sales to Israel. The Hill.

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