The Gaza Ceasefire: President Biden’s Speech. The Reactions-From Elected Officials & The Experts!
Reaction to the news of a Gaza ceasefire, as imagined, was swift … and fierce. While Biden Administration supporters universally expressed joy, the reaction from foreign policy observers was more nuanced. Coalition News will continue to add to this roster as the discussion evolves.
The Reactions
Rhode Island Congressman Seth Magaziner (D2)
“Today’s announcement is hopeful news for the hostages and their families who have endured so much. Since the October 7th terror attack by Hamas, the Israeli and Palestinian people yearn for peace, as does the entire world. I hope that this is the beginning of a process that will lead to a lasting and just peace.”
Rhode Island Congressman Gabe Amo (D1)
Today, Congressman Gabe Amo (RI-01), the Vice Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, released the following statement:
“The announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is a critical first step on the long road toward enduring peace,” said Congressman Gabe Amo, Vice Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. “15 months ago, Hamas unleashed a barbaric terrorist attack that shattered communities and upended life in the region. Since then, far too many Israelis and Palestinians have experienced unimaginable pain, death, and the agony of being separated from their loved ones. I’ve met with families directly impacted by this conflict, pushed for the release of Israeli hostages, and advocated for humanitarian aid to ease the suffering in Gaza. Today’s agreement achieves those goals.
“Today’s announced pause in hostilities is also a testament to the importance of diplomatic efforts alongside regional partners,” continued Amo. “It’s now time for swords to be turned into plowshares and for a comprehensive day-after plan to be put in effect without delay. With the focus shifting on transforming this agreement into concrete action, I will continue my work in Congress to promote the peace and stability necessary for a lasting two-state solution.”
Irina Tsukerman – Host of The Washington Outsider
While it plays well for the Biden and Trump administrations and for Netanyahu, the cease fire, by producing an illusion of peace, as with any agreement that does not consider the objectives or the concept of victory, is bound to fail sooner rather than later, and ties Israel’s hands in terms of future security considerations.
While individual civilian lives matter a great deal, and as a humanitarian matter, are undoubtedly a priority, from the security perspective, placing hostages at the center of a broader military strategy doomed Israel’s operations in Gaza. Tactical triumphs have been achieved to some extent, giving a level of moral satisfaction after some of the leaders responsible for October 7 terrorist attacks were liquidated and Hamas infrastructure was destroyed.
However, most underlying issues are not resolved, guaranteeing that Hamas can regroup and return to fight another day. Throughout the war, a proper counterinsurgency strategy was never implemented, which means that the recruitment process proceeded apace, and Hamas returned to areas that were cleared almost as soon as IDF forces left it.
Muddled messaging continued to contribute to Hamas’ posture of “resistance” which played well to the rest of the region and radicalized the Arab street, which after years of push back Islamism, have embraced Hamas as liberators.
I have warned from the start that the war has to be as much political and information warfare, as it is kinetic, and yet by refocusing only on short term military gains, Israel returned to the same mistakes that made October 7 possible in the first place.
Now we are forced to relive the same bad deals that have once liberated Sinwar as part of an exchange deal for Gilad Shalit, amidst rumors that Hamas already has a new Sinwar, amidst a geopolitical situation where Turkey appears positioned to take over arms smuggling and Hamas sponsorship for Iran through Syria and the West Bank, and where Iran-backed jihadists have now entrenched themselves deeper than ever in portions of West Bank, contributing to the growing extremism among the locals and once more threatening to surround Israel.
Now we are facing a scenario where hostage diplomacy is being once again legitimized by the conclusion of this deal and by its success, which naturally guarantees that hostage taking and terrorism will remain part for the course and inspire many more operatives to join the fray.
The high price of human lives paid to get Israel to this point is largely wasted due to the fact that Hamas remains in power, and Gaza remains armed and radicalized with no prospect for changes in the imminent future.
Moreover, Hamas managed to secure unprecedented support in the region and around the world thanks to the effective use of propaganda networks, whereas Israel has been delegitimized and isolated and many of its diplomatic and political gains have been reversed. Even the withdrawal process is largely a capitulation to Hamas terms. Without an international coalition to guard the borders and to keep Hamas constrained to governing, Israel faces an inevitable return to violations, contraband of weapons and fighters, and the rebuilding of Iranian proxies – with no way of recouping the costs of the war.
The terms of the ceasefire are humiliating. Israel commits not to rearrest the convicted terrorists it is releasing in exchange, who will surely be greeted as heroes; Israel commits not to “pursue” Hamas, thus endorsing their survival and return to politics; there is no option of bringing the Doha and Turkey-hosted Hamas leaders to trial or to extract a financial price from Qatar, Turkey, and others for funding and enabling terrorism which led to this war.
Israel suffered a devastating blow, and yet, while Gaza will be reconstructed by eager Arab and European nations, Israel itself will be left with the bill for self-defense which has devastated its economy and exiled nearly 100,000 Israelis from the North for the duration of the hostilities.
