US Pushes UNSC to Back 'Immediate' Gaza Cease-fire

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Facts

  • The US revised the language of a draft UN Security Council resolution for a third time in two weeks on Tuesday to back 'an immediate ceasefire of roughly six-weeks in Gaza together with the release of all hostages,' reflecting the recent comments made by US Vice Pres. Kamala Harris.1
  • Former Pres. Donald Trump, who is expected to be Pres. Joe Biden's opponent in the 2024 election, weighed in on the war in Gaza, declaring that Israel must 'finish the problem.' Trump, who has kept his position on the conflict vague, also implied that Hamas' Oct. 7 attack would not have happened if he were president.2
  • Though another round of talks between the US, Qatar, Egypt, and Hamas in Cairo ended on Tuesday without a breakthrough, Hamas' delegation is still there to meet with Egyptian officials. The group reportedly presented a proposal during the talks that will be discussed with Israel in the coming days.3
  • A Jordanian report detailing Hamas' proposal claimed that the group wants the release of several high-profile Palestinian political figures from Hamas, Fatah, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). The unverified report also claimed that the group has stuck to its past demands, saying that the proposal was final.4
  • Meanwhile, the EU is reportedly working on establishing a maritime humanitarian aid corridor to Gaza, with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen expected to travel to Cyprus this week to discuss the island's possible role in such a corridor.5
  • Gaza's Health Ministry said last week that the war's official death toll has surpassed 30K Palestinians, most of whom were women and children. The war has also created a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation. The official Israeli death toll on Oct. 7 stands at around 1.2K people (and there are still over 100 hostages being held in the Gaza Strip).6

Sources: 1Reuters, 2NBC, 3Associated Press, 4The Times of Israel, 5The Guardian and 6The New York Times.

Narratives

  • Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by NBC. 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 is rapidly getting out of hand, and the situation must be remedied.
  • Pro-Israel narrative, as provided by The Jerusalem Post. 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 did not want. Israel will pursue its goals, which are incredibly popular with its citizens, regardless of whether it annoys Washington or anyone else.
  • Pro-Palestine narrative, as provided by The Nation. 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.

Predictions