Palestinians flee the site of an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip (Photo: Reuters).
In recent days, the world has witnessed the first positive news from Gaza after a long period of fierce fighting.
As part of a ceasefire brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the United States that began on November 24 and has been extended until December 1, Hamas has released dozens of the more than 200 people it captured during its offensive on Israel on October 7. Israel, for its part, has released 150 Palestinian prisoners, halted its bombardment of Gaza and allowed more humanitarian aid into the strip after more than five weeks of intense fighting.
The agreement opens up the prospect of a possible extension of the ceasefire, and US President Joe Biden said on November 27 that his administration was working to help the sides achieve that goal. It is the right goal.
Now, the Biden administration must clarify why such an extension is in the interests of both Israel and the Palestinians, as well as the interests of Washington and its international partners.
A lasting ceasefire could facilitate the release of more Israeli hostages and reduce the risk of further worsening the humanitarian disaster for civilians in Gaza. It could also help ease tensions in the West Bank and reduce the risk of escalation and spillover of the war by drawing in outside actors, such as Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Iran.
However, extending the ceasefire is just the beginning of a longer and larger process that will require strong US-backed regional diplomacy and, crucially, a policy overhaul by Washington.
When President Biden took office in 2021, he was determined not to waste time and energy on futile attempts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But the war in Gaza has shown that the issue cannot be ignored.
To make good on Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s November 8 statement that there can be no return to the clearly “unsustainable” status quo, the United States must change its overall approach and commit to a broad-based diplomatic process that can ultimately resolve the conflict and prioritize the rights and humanitarian needs of the people in the region.
America’s global reputation and credibility have been severely damaged by its support for Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. But Washington remains the only country with the relationships and influence needed to secure an extension of the ceasefire and facilitate a process that could eventually lead to a deal to end the conflict.
Need long term solution
If the ceasefire in Gaza holds, it could pave the way for a solution to the current war.
Any deal must end Israel’s blockade and detention of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. It must also deny Hamas the ability to launch attacks on Israel. The Israeli government’s stated goal of “destroying Hamas” is understandable but unrealistic.
Israel cannot completely eliminate Hamas, but it can moderate it by addressing the “anger and hopelessness” that Hamas has long harbored in its relationship with Tel Aviv. Ultimately, any just solution will require taking into account the massive civilian casualties on both sides.
The United States has backed an International Criminal Court investigation into Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine. And Washington may have to do the same in Israel and the Palestinian territories if it wants to reach a lasting peace solution for Gaza.
A lasting ceasefire would also give Washington a chance to seriously use diplomacy to resolve the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict in a just manner.
Palestinians leave during a ceasefire near Gaza City on November 27 (Photo: Reuters).
More broadly, the United States should also abandon its failed policy of facilitating direct, bilateral negotiations between parties with a huge imbalance in military and diplomatic power. Instead, if the ceasefire is to hold, Washington should immediately convene the parties that met in February to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and produced the so-called “Aqaba Communiqué,” which included Egypt, Israel, Jordan, the United States, and representatives of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). This time, Turkey and Qatar, security partners who maintain open channels with Iran and Hamas, should also be invited.
The goal is to ensure a comprehensive solution to the conflict in accordance with international law. This would include universal normalization and recognition of the national rights of both Israelis and Palestinians while ensuring their security and well-being.
The participants could propose various models as terms of reference. One potential model is the “Arab Peace Initiative,” which would propose full Arab recognition of Israel in exchange for an end to the occupation that began in 1967, a just solution to the Palestinian refugee problem, and the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Whatever formula is adopted, it must confront the fundamental reality that Israel’s indefinite occupation and annexation of Palestinian territory is in fact illegal under international law. Failure to get Israel to abandon its efforts to establish such control over these territories will make it difficult to resolve the conflict diplomatically and will risk igniting further violence.
A fair resolution must also guarantee Palestinian rights in all territories: Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Any approach that separates Gaza is doomed to failure because it is an integral part of Palestine.
In addition to leading regional diplomacy, the United States must reorient its own policy, taking concrete steps to end Israel's deepening occupation.
Washington should also stop using its veto power at the United Nations Security Council to shield Israel from criticism of its annexation and settlement activities.
Washington should not pave the way for Israel or any other country to use weapons purchased from the United States or its funding to violate international humanitarian law or for any purpose prohibited by U.S. law. Washington should also support a democratic process that creates a legitimate Palestinian leadership that can make credible commitments on behalf of the Palestinian people.
President Biden has been a strong supporter of Israel throughout his political career. He has built up tremendous credibility with the Israeli people, and now it is time for him to use that credibility to push the Israeli government in the right direction.
The American leader could easily demonstrate that such steps would not strain his promised commitment to Israel's long-term security; in fact, they would be the fulfillment of that promise.
Gaza has been through several wars since 2007, and the script is always the same: A few weeks of agreement among the parties involved that the crisis must be resolved, and then everyone forgets.
The current disaster is the end of that model. It is hard to imagine what good can come of nearly two months of horror and bloodshed. But an American commitment to a sustained diplomatic process based on international law would be a giant leap toward a secure and peaceful future for both peoples.
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