Growing Global Opposition to Israel’s Military Campaign in Gaza Puts Pressure on Israeli Government and US
The Israeli government and its closest ally, the United States, are feeling the strain as global opposition to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza continues to grow. The recent vote in the United Nations General Assembly in favor of an immediate humanitarian ceasefire is a testament to this mounting pressure. The resolution received support from a staggering 153 countries, including US allies like Canada, Australia, and Japan, which had previously abstained from voting.
While certain countries, including the US, opposed the resolution, and Germany and the UK chose to abstain, experts believe that the longstanding relationship between the US and Israel, coupled with the US’s own interests in the region, will prevent any substantial change in its stance. US President Joe Biden has altered his tone on Israel, but there have been no significant shifts in the US’s position regarding the ongoing conflict.
Experts argue that only the US possesses the power to exert pressure on Israel to change its course. They suggest that the US could either threaten to vote for a ceasefire resolution in the UN Security Council or reduce or end its material support for Israel’s offensive. Changing global support for Israel has had an impact on how the US frames its backing but has not yet been translated into concrete actions.
As civilian casualties continue to rise in Gaza and the Israeli blockade exacerbates the humanitarian crisis, global opinion has shifted significantly. Western countries initially sided with Israel after Hamas launched its attacks, but the mounting civilian death toll and humanitarian crisis have caused a change in public sentiment.
Tensions between the US and Israel regarding tactics and strategy have emerged, partly fueled by international outcry. While progressive voices within the US have called for conditioning military aid to Israel on the fulfillment of humanitarian measures, the Biden administration has not backed this proposition.
Currently, the push for policy changes in both Israel and the US is primarily driven by domestic pressures. The Israeli government perceives a ceasefire as ensuring the “survival of Hamas” and has emphasized its intention to carry on with military actions. Biden, on the other hand, faces pressure from his own party, which is divided on the issue of military support for Israel, and a growing number of Americans are backing the call for a ceasefire.
The complex range of public opinion within the US adds another layer of difficulty for Biden, as most Americans believe he has either shown the right amount of support for Israel or, alternatively, too little. With this multifaceted landscape, the situation remains highly nuanced and challenging both for the Israeli government and the US administration.
