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U.S. Warnings to Israel Likely Extend the Gaza Conflict

(X) Robert Satloff - The U.S. continues to caution Israel against any substantial incursion without adequate precautions to protect civilians. Hamas must love this. America's "don't do it" is music to [Gaza Hamas leader] Sinwar's ears. The current U.S. position on Gaza is backwards. It has the unintended effect of keeping the hostages in captivity. It likely extends the Gaza conflict. What would a different approach look like? Publicly, the U.S. should urge Israel to complete the main battle operations in Gaza - i.e., the Rafah operation - as swiftly and efficiently as possible. We should be assisting with the humanitarian side of this and helping coordinate with Egypt to ensure their cooperation. Our goal should be to get to a satisfactory end of the war as soon as possible. U.S. embrace of the final main battle operation in Gaza has a greater chance to secure the release of the hostages, produce a ceasefire that relieves the terrible situation of civilians in Gaza, and allow for the U.S.-Israel-Saudi deal than the current position of effectively no real pressure on Hamas' leadership. The writer is Executive Director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
2024-05-05 00:00:00
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