Biden's unequivocal support for Israel's war on Gaza comes with grave consequences

Following the Hamas attack on 7 October, which claimed the lives of 1,400 individuals, many of whom were civilians, Biden has consistently voiced his unconditional support for Israel. In his initial response on the day of the incident and subsequent speeches and statements, Biden stressed Israel's right to self-defence, stating "full stop."

The Biden administration wasted no time in dispatching additional military aid to Israel, including crucial supplies like ammunition and missile interceptors. Furthermore, special operations forces were deployed to assist Israel's military in planning and intelligence.

Simultaneously, in a clear warning to Iran and its allies, the United States sent two carrier groups and additional aircraft to the region as a deterrent signal to dissuade them from entering the conflict.

Mass destruction and human loss of life

Meanwhile, Israeli forces launched intensive air strikes on Gaza, a densely populated enclave housing 2.3 million Palestinians, targeting residential areas and critical civilian infrastructure.

Satellite imagery analysis suggests that, in less than two weeks of war, 11,000 buildings in Gaza have been destroyed or damaged. At least 92,000 people will have no home to return to when the fighting ends.

Israel also further tightened its illegal 16-year blockade on Gaza, announcing a complete halt to essential services, including electricity, water, and fuel, until the abductees were released.

The death toll in Gaza has surpassed 5,000, with a significant number comprising women and children, heightening concerns about an imminent humanitarian catastrophe.

US bias damages its global image

As criticism of US policy began to mount, reports surfaced of discreet appeals by President Biden and his administration to Israel, urging restraint and the reduction of Palestinian casualties.

However, this quiet diplomacy falls short of demonstrating the United States' commitment to protecting civilians on both sides of the conflict. Calls for restraint would carry more weight if accompanied by concrete steps or mechanisms implemented by the US to safeguard civilians.

The sincerity of the Biden administration's gentle approach is further undermined by its biased public diplomacy. This imbalance is evident in Biden's statement upon landing in Israel, where he suggested that the bombing of the al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza appeared to be the work of "the other team, not you," implying Palestinian armed factions were responsible, without providing substantial evidence to support his assertion.

A more prudent response would have been to call for an independent investigation into this tragic incident, which claimed the lives of 500 civilians, especially considering that many US Arab allies hold Israel accountable for the bombing.

Ineffective deterrence policies exposed

Despite damaging the United States' global image, the Biden administration's deterrent policy has shown signs of ineffectiveness. Not only did it fail to prevent Iranian-backed militias from launching attacks against Israel, but it also placed American troops in the region at risk.

Iranian-backed groups remained undeterred by US threats. Hezbollah, for example, stated that the US carrier deployment "will not frighten the peoples of our (Islamic) nation, nor the Resistance factions, which are ready for confrontation." These groups launched attacks against Israel from Syria and Lebanon to underscore their seriousness.

In Syria, Iranian-backed militias conducted multiple missile attacks toward the Golan Heights — a region under Israeli occupation since 1967. In southern Lebanon, Hezbollah and other groups engaged in back-and-forth skirmishes with Israel, largely adhering to established rules of engagement.

To escalate the situation further, Iranian-backed militias in the region have also threatened to target American assets in the region if the US intervenes in the Hamas-Israel conflict or if Tel Aviv "expands the battleground."

Read more: Will Hezbollah target American assets amid Israel's war on Gaza?

They have also ensured their threats carry weight.

In a span of 24 hours, US forces in multiple locations across Iraq and Syria came under attack by aerial drones and missiles. A navy destroyer in the northern Red Sea also intercepted several missiles and drones launched from Yemen.

Iran and its affiliated armed factions in the region have also reiterated their willingness to intervene more actively if Israel's actions in Gaza escalate further, including in the event of a potential collapse in Hamas's resistance or a rising number of Palestinian casualties.

At this juncture, finding an off-ramp for this escalating conflict is challenging, with the potential for it to evolve into a direct conflict with Iran.

If Israel invades Gaza and Iranian-backed armed factions intensify their attacks, the Biden administration will face a critical decision. It will have to choose between taking action, potentially triggering a broad and protracted regional conflict involving Iranian-affiliated groups, or refraining from intervention, which would diminish the credibility of its threats.

Unconditional support for Israel is a strategic error

Equally, President Biden's policy steers the United States down a diplomatically precarious path. By blindly doubling down on unconditional support for Israel, Biden is making a strategic error that tarnishes the global image of the United States.

This stance also obstructs American diplomacy from playing a mediating role in the ongoing conflict, limiting the US's capacity to contribute to peace in the region.

Notably, a planned summit between Biden and Palestinian, Jordanian, and Egyptian leaders was cancelled by his counterparts, resulting in his visit to Israel as the sole leg of his recent trip to the region. Likewise, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reportedly encountered a lukewarm reception during his diplomatic efforts across the region.

Furthermore, Biden's one-sided solidarity with Israel risks undermining diplomatic initiatives related to Ukraine. Just a month before the Hamas attack on Israel, the US and other Western allies had called on nations in the Global South to denounce Russia's actions targeting Ukrainian civilians, emphasising the importance of upholding international law.

Failing to apply these principles to the situation in Gaza exposes a glaring hypocrisy on the part of the United States. It not only undermines America's efforts to garner broader support for Ukraine but also challenges the US's credibility when advocating for the protection of human rights and the maintenance of a rules-based global order.

To mitigate the ramifications of this biased policy, President Biden urgently needs to practice what he preaches. The United States should advocate, both publicly and in private discussions, for adherence to the law of war and international law, holding all violators accountable without exceptions.

Additionally, the United States should encourage Israel to shift away from its highly aggressive retaliatory stance, as a preventive measure against the potential outbreak of a disastrous regional conflict that would be detrimental to all parties, including the United States.

It's not too late to act sensibly, even now—but soon it will be.