Biden admin carefully ramps up criticism of Israel over the Gaza war but stops short of cutting off military aid
NBCMar 05
Hamas: US Pressure 'Has No Value' in Negotiations
The Facts
Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri reiterated his group's position on Thursday that Hamas would not release Israeli hostages from Gaza until Israel agreed to end the war — which will soon enter its eighth month — adding that US pressure on Hamas "has no value."
On Thursday, US Pres. Joe Biden, alongside 17 other global leaders, called for Hamas to release the hostages, with an unnamed official accusing Hamas political leader Yahya Sinwar — who is still at large in Gaza — of being the primary obstacle to a cease-fire deal.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Israel must be able to defend itself from terrorist attacks from Gaza or elsewhere, and the US is committed to preventing malicious actors from threatening Israel's legitimate concerns. However, the Biden administration is losing its patience with Netanyahu's intransigence. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is rapidly getting out of hand, and the situation must be remedied. An Israeli offensive in Rafah would only make the situation worse.
Pro-Israel narrative
In these critical times, Israel's military is diligently preparing for the possibility of an offensive into Rafah to dismantle Hamas' remaining battalions. Israel has fought a noble fight against Hamas' terror, and it seems imperative that Israel enter Rafah and finish this once and for all. However, given the complexities of the situation, Israel will calculate its next moves carefully.
Pro-Palestine narrative
Regardless of whether Israel is allowed to enter Rafah or not, the US is responsible for the atrocities Israel has inflicted upon the Palestinians of Gaza. The Biden admin., worried about domestic political pressures, wants to make it seem as if it never fully supported this war, when from the very beginning Israel has been dependent on the US in its campaign to destroy Gaza and starve its people.
Nerd narrative
There's a 70% chance that Israel will have de facto power in the Gaza Strip on Jan. 1, 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.