The film-maker on the plight of the 7 October hostages.
If Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s trip to Israel this week to call for a ceasefire is anything like his other ten visits in the past year, it might look something like this. Halfway through a fruitless two-hour negotiation with the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, an alarm signalling a rocket attack will ring. They will descend six floors to a bunker, where Blinken might catch a word with the Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant, who will restate his view that Israel is fighting “human animals and we are acting accordingly.”
Meanwhile, Blinken’s adviser will wander off into the bunker’s garage to find a phone signal so he can update the national security adviser Jake Sullivan on the Israelis’ intransigence. Back above ground, Netanyahu might say “not a drop” of aid will get into Gaza, or refuse requests for a ceasefire by passing notes to the Americans during a cabinet meeting. On the plane home Blinken will call President Joe Biden who might once again rail against “that son of a bitch, Bibi Netanyahu, he’s a bad guy. He’s a bad f*****g guy!”
A steady cycle of diplomatic frustration has characterised the Biden administration’s efforts to influence the situation in Israel and Gaza. After the Hamas attacks on 7 October 2023, which killed over 1,000 Israelis and Palestinians, the White House shifted focus from conflict resolution to military support. Israel’s military actions in Gaza quickly escalated, and the U.S. pushed for a ceasefire, which Netanyahu rejected, while also sending weapons and funds to support Israel’s defense.
The cycle has led to increased frustration both in Washington and Israel, with Biden’s calls for a ceasefire met with continued resistance. Blinken has faced severe difficulties in his meetings with Netanyahu, where many feel his diplomatic efforts have lacked the leverage necessary to compel Israel to change its stance. As a result, the U.S. appears caught between its support for Israel and its calls for restraint in Gaza.
Complicating matters is the growing discontent among progressive groups in the U.S. that criticize Biden’s continued support for Israel’s military actions. These groups demand more decisive action, such as a firm stance against Israel’s handling of Gaza. Yet, Biden has faced criticism from both sides, trying to balance U.S. interests in Israel with the need to address international calls for humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Amid this, Biden’s approval ratings have been affected, with both Israeli military strategies and the ongoing conflict weighing on his presidency. Biden has faced an internal battle between pushing Israel for a ceasefire, while also respecting the longstanding alliance between the U.S. and Israel.
As this diplomatic conflict continues to unfold, Blinken’s role has become increasingly symbolic. Despite his efforts to broker peace, his inability to sway Netanyahu or change the trajectory of the U.S. involvement in the crisis signals a critical point in U.S.-Israel relations. This failure to effectively manage the situation leaves the Biden administration increasingly caught between two intractable sides in a highly volatile global arena.
As Blinken heads back to Washington yet again without progress, the White House finds itself running out of options. The situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, and the effectiveness of Biden’s policy in the region grows ever more questionable.