President Joe Biden’s support for Israel in its war against Hamas is facing scrutiny from Congressional Democrats. As the Jewish state mounts the next phase of its offensive against the terrorist organization in Gaza, some on the left have expressed concerns about how Israel is conducting its military operations in the region.
When the war began on October 7 after Hamas launched a brutal surprise assault on Israel, targeting civilians and killing over 1,000 people, Israel’s response was swift, and it has been launching airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, the territory Hamas controls, ever since. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has begun a ground incursion into the area to root out and kill Hamas terrorists.
However, critics of Israel argue that its response was disproportionate and that Israel is harming Palestinian civilians and other noncombatants in its efforts to destroy Hamas. Biden has verbally supported Israel since the beginning of the conflict but has cautioned its government to avoid civilian casualties and ensure that humanitarian aid makes it to those who need it. Now, Democrats are speaking out against Israel’s handling of the operation, which could signal a shift in the party in how it approaches the conflict.
President Biden’s steadfast support for Israel is facing increasing pressure as some of his staunch supporters from within his party are warning about the ways in which the Israeli response is being carried out.
Biden has resisted calls to join other Democrats who are seeking a cease-fire, and has largely avoided commenting on how Israel is carrying out a new phase in a war that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the weekend warned “is going to be long and difficult.”
But in recent days, other Democrats have pointedly criticized the pace of humanitarian aid, a communications blackout and the rising death toll among Palestinian civilians. With one of the United States’ closest allies now steeling itself for a potentially prolonged conflict, they also raised concerns about whether Israel has clear and achievable objectives as it conducts a major ground assault.
In one recent move, a group of more than two dozen senators, including Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), called on Biden to work with Israel, Egypt, and the United Nations to deliver fuel into Gaza amid the humanitarian crisis.
The president’s recent phone call with Netanyahu highlighted the need for more humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza, and the criticisms from within his party have created new challenges for Biden, who might be held responsible for how Israel carries out its response.
White House officials insist they are working to hold Israel accountable and that they share some of the concerns voiced by Democrats. However, the situation on the ground remains complex. Hamas operatives have intentionally hidden among civilians to use them as human shields. This has made it more difficult for Israel to prosecute its war against the terrorist group without causing collateral damage.
Moreover, Israel’s decision to cut off communications to and from Gaza created a near-total blackout, which made the situation even worse for Palestinian civilians. Combined with the lack of food, water, medical supplies, and other resources, it has created perilous conditions for those living in the region. Democrats have expressed concerns that Israel is responding to one war crime with another.
From the beginning of the war, a group of Democrats represented by “The Squad” were already against Israel while giving Hamas the kid-glove treatment. Folks like Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), and Ilhan Omar (D-MN) had already made their anti-Israel agenda clear.
However, most Democratic lawmakers expressed fervent support for the Jewish state, which makes this seeming shift even more noteworthy. Depending on how Israel carries out its operations against Hamas, it could prompt even more Democrats to rethink their support, which could, in turn, influence President Biden’s approach to the conflict.