Israel-Gaza war consumes Biden’s attention

The Israel-Gaza conflict has been a clear focus of the Biden administration in the past few weeks. From the start of the hostilities, President Biden has been engaged diplomatically in seeking a de-escalation of hostilities and a ceasefire between the two sides. The administration has been working tirelessly with both the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to coordinate a de-escalation and protect human rights. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been leading U.S. diplomatic efforts, briefing Israeli and Palestinian leaders on the progress of negotiations. The Biden administration has also recently planned to send a diplomatic delegation, led by Deputy Assistant Secretary for Israel and Palestinian Affairs Hady Amr, to Israel to assess the situation on the ground. The United States has also pledged its support for an independent UN-led investigation to identify any violations of international law. It has also committed to the replenishment of nearly $360 million in aid to the Palestinians, $15 million of which will go to the United Nations’ emergency relief efforts in Gaza. Finally, President Biden has publicly urged both the Israelis and Palestinians to focus on a ceasefire and return to negotiations instead of further violence.