American and Israeli interests in the conflict in the Middle East differ in the short and long term, which hinders the path to ending the war in the Gaza Strip, according to the American newspaper “The Wall Street Journal”.

In the first place, Israel views the Hamas movement as an existential threat and sees its elimination as a decisive goal. If it does not achieve this, it will have failed in its war.

The United States has committed to helping Israel defeat Hamas, but for US President Joe Biden, the threat goes beyond Hamas. His administration is trying to keep its allies united against Iran, Russia and China. Israel and the United States want to avoid a larger regional war, but Israel is willing to face more risks as it seeks to defeat Hamas.

Cease-fire

Following the movement's October 7 attack on Israel, Biden made clear his strong support for Israel, embracing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a rare visit to Tel Aviv for a war zone. But in the days that followed, Biden repeatedly stressed in phone calls with Netanyahu, under pressure from critics in his own party, that Israel must conduct its military campaign in accordance with international humanitarian law. The United States is increasingly calling for a halt to the fighting to bring humanitarian aid into Gaza and remove the hostages safely, despite resisting calls for a complete ceasefire.

At a fundraiser on Wednesday, one attendee shouted: “As a rabbi, I want you to call for an immediate ceasefire.” “I think we need to,” Biden responded.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said he discussed the issue and logistics of the truce with Netanyahu and the Israeli war cabinet at a meeting in Tel Aviv on Friday.

In response to these pressures, Netanyahu said on Friday that he opposes a temporary ceasefire that is not matched by the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. American officials say that Israel previously stopped the fighting when two American hostages were released. Israel did not admit that it had agreed to a truce at that time.

The Biden administration is also pressuring Israel to reduce civilian casualties and launch strikes targeting Hamas leaders. But even as the number of casualties in Gaza rose and the humanitarian crisis worsened, Israel continued its massive strikes, targeting the largest refugee camp in the Gaza Strip.

The White House declined to comment on whether the strike was appropriate, but administration officials were frustrated by the widespread casualties.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that only Israel can manage its operations, noting that Washington's role is to ensure that Israel obtains the tools and capabilities.

Netanyahu said on Friday that he would continue his military campaign in Gaza, adding that he would not allow fuel, which the United States and humanitarian groups say is needed to run electricity generators for hospitals and water facilities, into the Gaza Strip.

An unknown future in Gaza

In the longer term, Biden calls for a two-state solution, and Blinken has consulted with the Israeli government about what comes after the military campaign for Israel and Gaza.

“We continue to have discussions with partners across the region and beyond about what should happen once Hamas is defeated... and the best path, or perhaps the only path, is a two-state solution,” Blinken said on Friday.

The Israelis have no clear idea about Gaza's future. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant said that the goal is to destroy Hamas' military capabilities and ability to rule, but he added that Israel has no interest in reoccupying Gaza permanently.

Some on the Israeli far right have supported the long-term occupation of Gaza or pushing Gazans into Egypt's Sinai region, which Egyptian leaders oppose.

Israeli internal pressures

As the conflict continues without a clear end, Biden and Netanyahu face increasing political pressure at home.

Today, Biden faces criticism from members of his party, especially from young voters, Muslims and Arab Americans, who are concerned about the increasing death toll in Gaza and are urging the administration to call a ceasefire.

Even members of Congress who were supportive of Israel and supported giving it military aid said this week that they wanted more restraint in its military campaign against Hamas.

Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, a member of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee's Middle East Subcommittee, said on Thursday that the current rate of civilian deaths inside Gaza is unacceptable, calling on Israel to immediately reconsider its approach and shift to a targeted campaign.

Indeed, Netanyahu, who is unpopular among Israelis due to his pursuit of controversial judicial reform, is today dealing with criticism over how the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation was carried out, his refusal to take responsibility, as well as questions about whether he should resign.