President Joe Biden and his administration are facing pressure from protesters calling for a cease-fire in Gaza, with many Democrats supporting a halt to the violence. A poll conducted by Data for Progress showed that 76 percent of Democrats support a cease-fire, and a recent Economist/YouGov poll found that 49 percent of Democrats believe Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Despite this, Biden has continued to offer military and diplomatic support to Israel’s onslaught in Gaza. While Biden claims to be working quietly with the Israeli government to reduce the conflict, the reality is that the situation in the Middle East is escalating, with American troops becoming increasingly involved in fighting regional militias.
Biden’s quiet diplomacy has already resulted in the deaths of American soldiers, as they are targeted by militias opposed to US hegemony in the region. The war in Gaza has given these groups a new incentive to engage in asymmetrical battles with the United States. Despite the escalating violence, Biden’s quiet diplomacy has not led to a more humane approach from Israel. In fact, the International Court of Justice recently ruled that Israel must abide by the rules of war, highlighting the alleged war crimes being committed. However, instead of holding Israel accountable, the United States and its Western allies have cut funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, which provides vital aid to Gaza.
The failure of Biden’s quiet diplomacy is also evident in the rise of far-right voices in Israel, who are advocating for the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza. Biden’s reluctance to criticize Israel has empowered these extremists and deepened the divide between the Democratic Party’s leadership, which supports Israel’s assault on Gaza, and its voters, who want a cease-fire. In an attempt to reconcile this divide, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has suggested that some Democrats calling for a cease-fire are tools of Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling for an FBI investigation into the funding of anti-war protesters. This tactic of targeting dissenters as pawns of foreign dictators has a history of backfiring for Democrats, leading to GOP dominance and self-inflicted wounds. The chaos in the Middle East will inevitably have consequences for the United States.
