President Joe Biden is facing a major challenge in trying to help bring an end to the 11-day conflict between Israel and Hamas. Despite an international cease-fire efforts being underway, a spiraling death toll in the Palestinian enclave is making it difficult to bring the conflict to an end.
Ever since Biden was sworn in as the new Commander in Chief, his administration has been engaged in international diplomacy to broker an agreement that eventually resulted in a fragile truce. Until then, the 11-day conflict had claimed the lives of more than 200 people, including women and children, with the Palestinian death toll accounting for over two–thirds of the casualties.
The Biden administration has put a lot of effort into finding a solution to end the conflict. U.S. Secretary of State Lloyd Austin has visited the region, engaging in shuttle diplomacy among key players. Furthermore, Biden had spoken to both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi independently. On the other side, Vice President Kamala Harris has held talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which has been a decisive factor in persuading Israel to accept the US-backed proposal for a cease-fire.
Despite the efforts of the Biden administration, the Israel-Gaza war is still raging on. As of current, the cease-fire agreement is still fragile and the conflict continues to consume Biden’s attention, something he has addressed multiple times, stating its complexity.
Given that the conflict has not only escalated to unprecedented heights of violence but has forced Biden to devote much of his attention to ensure a lasting solution, it is safe to say that the Israel-Gaza war is far from over. While it remains to be seen what course this conflict will take and what is in store for the people of Gaza, what is certain is that Biden’s administration will continue doing whatever it takes to bring a sustainable peace to the volatile region.