Staff Reports
The Biden administration’s attempts to rein in Israel’s self-defense operations against Hamas seem to be akin to trying to put out a forest fire with a squirt gun. Multiple reports indicate that the latest ceasefire proposals have been met with considerable skepticism and downright rejection from both Israel and the terrorist organization. While the White House appears to be reveling in the notion of brokering peace, the reality on the ground suggests that intentions may not translate into tangible outcomes.
Reports from the Times of Israel reveal that Israeli officials approached the proposed ceasefire deal with measured reservations, while Hamas responded with outright disdain, flatly rejecting the overtures as they continue their campaign of terror. The deal, cobbled together as a result of Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s whirlwind visit to Egypt, is yet another reminder that some negotiations are better left uninitiated. After all, it’s hard to find common ground when one side is composed of brutal terrorists with a track record of infanticide and rampant destruction.
Report: Joe Biden’s Last-Ditch Israel-Hamas Peace Deal Effort Fails Spectacularly https://t.co/SJqhPIQ33S
— Johnny Bravo (@johnny_bra6888) September 24, 2024
Since the brutal incursion by Hamas on October 7, where families were killed and more than 250 individuals were taken hostage, Israel has made it abundantly clear that its primary goal is the eradication of Hamas. Meanwhile, the Biden administration seems to have other ideas. The consistent messaging suggests that Biden and his advisors believe that a ceasefire is the best path forward, blatantly ignoring the fact that this would leave Hamas intact, guns blazing, and more emboldened than ever.
Even as American proposals are floated and considered, the Israeli government finds them lacking in key areas for accomplishing their critical war goals. Despite the supposed sincerity of Hamas in negotiations, they have rejected proposals before and have made increasingly outrageous demands since. This pattern of duplicity does not inspire confidence that a viable agreement could ever be reached. One has to wonder if the administration ever stopped to consider that negotiating with terrorists might, just might, be a fruitless endeavor.
Politico’s reports suggest that the Biden administration is increasingly realizing the futility of its attempts to appease both sides, with some anonymous sources speculating that a deal is unlikely before the end of Biden’s term. The apparent urgency to secure a ceasefire by November indicates that politics—and the next election—are driving the bus, rather than genuine concern for the numerous hostages still caught in the crossfire. For the Biden team, the possibility of wrapping up their term with a conciliatory bow hurts less than an unmitigated disaster, no matter how many lives are risked in the process.
As the saga continues, there remains a lingering question about the effectiveness of trying to diplomatically engage with a group hell-bent on chaos and destruction. It seems that for the Biden administration, hope springs eternal, even as the odds grow increasingly grim. What remains abundantly clear is that appeasing an organization committed to barbarity while expecting heartfelt negotiations feels more like a political fantasy—one that leaves Israel to fend for itself in a region where its enemies are emboldened.
