Israel’s restrictions on humanitarian aid in Gaza are a moral atrocity that has resulted in a strategic disaster for the country. The initial shutdown of aid entering the Strip in March was evident to cause a hunger crisis, but it did not prevent international outrage over the recent week.
The policy has strengthened Hamas’s position and given the group new leverage in ceasefire negotiations. International support for recognizing a Palestinian state is on the rise, with France, the UK, and Canada announcing their backing of the idea. The suffering in Gaza has also damaged Israel’s alliance with the US, alienating masses of Democrats and even some MAGA Republicans.
Analysts across the political spectrum agree that the recent international uproar over starvation in Gaza marks a catastrophe for Jerusalem. Michael Stephens, a Middle East expert at RUSI think tank, writes, “Israel may have massive military superiority in Gaza but as of this week, it has lost the war.”
The policy’s failure is attributed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s reliance on Israel’s extreme right for support and their demand for ever-more-brutal war policies. Netanyahu has deliberately caused mass suffering and inflicted a strategic disaster on his country, all to appease extremist factions.
The Gaza hunger crisis was already obvious before the aid cutoff but was exacerbated by the policy’s militarized effort, which led to Israeli soldiers opening fire on crowds of desperate Palestinians trying to get supplies. The international community has condemned Israel’s actions, and the US is now facing a major challenge in maintaining its strategic relationship with Israel.
Netanyahu’s coalition relies heavily on two extremist factions for support, who believe that Israel should control all the land between the river and the sea. These fanatics have driven Netanyahu to continue the war despite widespread domestic opposition, fearing they will lose office if he agrees to a ceasefire. The Gaza starvation disaster is a direct product of this combination of fanaticism and self-interest.
The situation has put Israel’s most important strategic relationship at risk, with Democrats and some MAGA Republicans turning against it. A majority of the Senate Democratic caucus has voted to suspend US military assistance to Israel, reflecting their increasingly harsh view of the country. The Republican party is also reeling from opposition to Netanyahu’s policies, as President Trump contradicted Israel’s claims that there was no starvation in Gaza.
In summary, Israel’s Gaza aid cutoff policy has resulted in a strategic failure and moral atrocity. The international community is condemning Israel’s actions, and the US is facing a major challenge in maintaining its relationship with the country.
Source: https://www.vox.com/world-politics/422231/israel-gaza-aid-cut-off-strategy-humanitarian-disaster