The stance of the United States government has managed to bring together Israel and the controversial entity, Hamas, on a singular issue: the perceived shift in President Joe Biden’s approach towards America’s relationship with its Jewish ally.
Israel expressed dismay while Hamas expressed approval at the U.S.’s decision to abstain from a recent United Nations Security Council vote. This vote called for a cease-fire but notably omitted the demand for the release of remaining hostages. While the U.S. contends that the resolution holds no binding force, many experts argue otherwise.
Despite this, Hamas, the governing body in Gaza labeled as a terrorist organization by some, now feels empowered to maintain its stance of non-engagement in hostage negotiations.
“Regarding the American administration, there is no doubt that there are clear changes in its policy towards Israel,” Hamas spokesperson Ghazi Hamad told Newsweek. “And this is perhaps due to the stupid and foolish policy of the occupying state, which commits genocide, killing civilians, and starvation.
“America has found that Israel is putting it in an awkward position before the world, and it cannot justify its retaliatory actions against civilians. America also feels that Israel is floundering and is not achieving any of the goals it has set for itself.”
The repercussions of the U.S. abstention led to Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu canceling a planned high-level visit to Washington, D.C., signaling Israel’s dissatisfaction.
Netanyahu articulated his discontent, stating, “The United States has abandoned its policy in the U.N. today,” underscoring the significance of the U.S.’s decision.
Hussein Ibish, a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, D.C., echoed this sentiment, explaining that an abstention from a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council effectively signals agreement with the resolution.
A critical point of contention for Israel is that the resolution does not explicitly demand the release of hostages held by Hamas. Richard Goldberg, a senior adviser at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, highlighted this concern, emphasizing that the resolution does not condition a cease-fire on the release of hostages.
Consequently, the international community now anticipates Israel’s compliance with a U.N. resolution, even though Hamas remains indifferent to its demands, a situation aptly illustrated by Israeli Ambassador Gilad Erdan’s remarks.
In response to the resolution, Erdan questioned its efficacy, particularly in influencing Hamas, a group he characterized as radical jihadists unswayed by diplomatic gestures.
“Since the vote, Hamas terrorists praised your resolution, refused the hostage deal and have not released even a single hostage, and immediately fired more rockets at Israeli civilians,” Israeli Ambassador Gilad Erdan posted on X. “Did you honestly expect radical jihadists who rape women and slaughter babies to be moved by a Security Council resolution?”
Hamad made clear Hamas was pleased.
“America committed a grave mistake when it granted Israel the ability and legitimacy to commit crimes and genocide and provided it with all forms of support, and it did not exert sufficient pressure to stop the war,” Hamad told Newsweek. “We believe that America can oblige Israel to stop the war.”
{Matzav.com}
From the moment Hamas invaded the only question was when, not if, the world would turn against Israel. Now, even the U.S. has thrown Israel to the antisemitic wolves of the U.N. We truly are alone.