The American President’s recent journey to an escalating Middle Eastern crisis highlighted the limitations of US influence in a region perched precariously on the edge of expansive violence. Not long after he had set foot on the torn landscape of Israel, Joe Biden found himself heading home, the regional tension palpably worse than it had been on his arrival.
Despite spending a mere seven hours in this tumultuous war zone, Biden voiced his satisfaction with the execution of his mission aboard Air Force One, particularly in reference to the significant task of allowing humanitarian aid to reach Gaza. The region had been under incessant Israeli bombardment ever since the appalling Hamas terror incidents of October 7.
However, the headlines spoke volumes about the severity of the situation – the rampant conflict between the narratives of Israel and Arab nations concerning a hospital explosion in Gaza City, an incident believed to have claimed hundreds of lives, further exacerbated the already critical conditions.
The President’s visit, although brief, was not without its achievements. He succeeded in conveying a powerful message of deep-rooted respect for Israel, eloquently expressing his empathy for the nation’s deep-seated trauma and loss. Drawing upon Holocaust analogies, he reiterated his unwavering resolution to support the Jewish people.
In tandem to this, he urged Israeli leaders to refrain from letting their anguish – stemming from the loss of multiple generations of family members – cloud their ultimate aim of extinguishing the threat of Hamas. Biden wisely distinguished the Palestinian people, whom he deemed innocent, from their extremist Hamas leaders, accusing the latter of exploiting civilians as protective barriers for their weapons and tunnels. He lamented the loss of so many “innocent lives” in the wake of days of relentless Israeli attacks.
However, the regional crisis adopted a new dimension on Biden’s homeward journey on Wednesday. Public outrage over the hospital explosion accelerated, raising the chilling prospect of Israel’s conflict with Hamas spilling over its borders. Biden conceded to the risk embedded in his emergency mission but remained firm in his belief that it had been a success.
Nevertheless, the dramatic, sudden presidential journey represents a weighty investment of American stature and influence, which raises the pertinent question: What tangible results did Biden’s excursion yield?
The unfortunate blast at the Gaza hospital, which Palestinian officials state resulted in hundreds of casualties, triggered protests in numerous Arab nations. This is precisely the kind of eventuality that Biden hoped his visit would mitigate, but his timely intervention arrived too late. Despite widespread disbelief in Arab nations regarding US and Israeli government statements and longstanding resentment over the enduring ill-treatment of Palestinians, Biden supported the Israeli assertion that a misfired Islamic Jihad rocket destined for Israel instigated the explosion.
The ill-fated explosion terminated Biden’s proposed onward journey to Amman, where he intended to converse with Jordan’s King Abdullah II, the Egyptian president, and the leader of the Palestinian Authority. Instead of the capital city hosting a presidential summit, it was rocked by mammoth protests for a successive night. This demonstrated the mounting fury in Arab nations about the Israeli bombardment of Gaza.
Despite the urgency of widespread civilian needs in Gaza, doubt lingers over the successful entry of even 20 trucks equipped with aid. This only amplifies the question of Biden’s true influence in real-world geopolitical situations. Demonstrations in various Arab countries, including Tunisia, Iraq, Iran, occupied West Bank, and Lebanon, echo growing discord in the Arab world against Israeli aggression.
In spite of the setbacks, and potentially due to his unique approach to diplomacy, Biden might have enabled some degree of influence over Israel. It remains to be seen if this will lead to the easing of Israel’s offensive against Palestine.
As for key regional players, increasing public clamor surrounding Gaza’s situation seems to have hardened their stances, leading to likely shifts in political decisions even for those allied with the U.S. Concurrently, Israel’s actions keep sparking international dismay and rebuke, further complicating international relations in the region.
Though it remains to be seen if Biden’s visit will bear its desired fruit, one thing is clear: Nothing is certain in geopolitics, and the reigns of power can shift unexpectedly. The future remains volatile, the tides of this conflict unpredictable, and the consequences – far-reaching – hold the potential to redirect the course of global power dynamics.
