Biden admin carefully ramps up criticism of Israel over the Gaza war but stops short of cutting off military aid
NBCMar 05
Latest Round of Hostage Talks Stalls in Cairo
The Facts
Hamas officials on Wednesday said that negotiators would remain in Cairo, after talks failed to reach a breakthrough regarding a hostage deal. The group reportedly presented its own proposal to the mediators and is waiting for a response from Israel, which didn't send a delegation to the third day of talks.
According to an Israeli official, Hamas proposed decreasing the number of Palestinian prisoners it was requesting in exchange for a cease-fire deal, if Israel allowed more Palestinian civilians to return to northern Gaza. However, the Israeli government is reportedly concerned that such a move could strengthen Hamas.
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. Last week's tragic incident is just another sign that this war needs to wind down, and all of the main actors involved must work toward a more permanent resolution. The humanitarian situation in Gaza, rapidly getting out of hand, must be remedied as soon as possible.
Pro-Israel narrative
Israel will always be thankful for the US' steadfast support, but the Biden administration needs to refrain from tying Israel's hands behind its back. Hamas is simply not interested in negotiating in good faith and has consistently shown its preference for violence. In contrast, Israel has done everything it can to ensure the safety of civilians in a war it didn't want. Israel will pursue its goals, which continue to be vehemently supported by its citizens, regardless of whether it annoys Washington or anyone else.
Pro-Palestine narrative
As Israel's slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza continues unabated, the Biden administration, increasingly anxious over the upcoming election, has resorted to cheap tactics to deny its support for Israel's brutal campaign. Regardless of how the administration tries to spin it, Biden has armed Israel, given it diplomatic cover, and refused to call for a permanent cease-fire — all of which incentivizes continued bloodshed. Indeed, Israel's war on Gaza would be unsustainable without US support, and Biden should enact concrete policy to stop the violence.
Nerd narrative
There's a 15% chance that Israel will expand its ground invasion to the city of Rafah on or before the first day of Ramadan (before March 12, 2024), according to the Metaculus prediction community.
