Gaza War: How US diplomacy is being pushed to its limitsThis indicated President Biden’s mounting frustration. The UN had warned of impending hunger, and the American-drafted resolution demanded that Israel provide additional supplies to Gaza.It supported the present initiative, which is being mediated by Qatar, to obtain a truce in exchange for Hamas releasing its hostages.However, it also issued a warning to Israel, stating that an attack might breach international humanitarian law about a military takeover of Rafah, which is home to over 1.4 million displaced Palestinians.
Speaking on Friday afternoon at Ben Gurion airport, Mr. Blinken chastised those who voted it down. He cautioned that a Rafah offensive may leave Israel without international support and that they did so for non-substantial reasons.“It risks killing more civilians; it risks wreaking greater havoc with the provision of humanitarian assistance; it risks further isolating Israel around the world and jeopardising its long-term security and standing,” he stated.Amid the widening gap between Washington and the Israeli prime minister, Mr. Netanyahu retaliated to Mr. Blinken’s evaluation.
“I told him I hope we’ll do it with the support of the United States,” stated the prime minister, “but if we have to, we’ll do it alone.”.
“More humanitarian aid must be permitted to enter.”
This week, while following Mr. Blinken on a time-zone-shattering tour of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East to try and stem the current crisis, I witnessed up close the amazing power of US diplomacy.The contradiction is apparent to many who criticize America: while the US is arming a significant ally, it is also pressing it—without success—to take far more action to lessen the suffering that the military action has caused among civilians.
