The killing of seven international humanitarian workers by an Israeli aerial bombardment in occupied Palestinian territory could prove to be a turning point in the Jewish state’s relationships with some of its closest allies, particularly the United States and a cluster of influential European nations.
Three Britons, a US-Canadian dual citizen, an Australian a Pole and a Palestinian were killed in a drone strike targeting a convoy of their cars last Monday, sparking international condemnation and even greater scrutiny of Israel’s indiscriminate bombings since it launched its war last October against the Hamas regime in Gaza.
While Israel’s western allies initially supported without reservation the military invasion and occupation of Gaza in retaliation for a bloody cross-border terrorist attack that killed over 1,200 Israelis and took about 250 hostages, 150 of them still in captivity, many of them are becoming increasingly concerned at a rising death toll in which most of the victims are innocent non-combatants, including women, children, the elderly and even hospital patients.
The latest outrage provokes a fresh barrage of criticism from allies, including United States President Joe Biden who over the last few months has not hidden his anger and impatience at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s intransigence.
Israel conceded to carrying out the attack, but an explanation that the convoy of the charity group World Central Kitchen was hit by mistake did not impress the home nations of the victims.
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that the explanation was not adequate and demanded “accountability for how it occurred. And what isn’t good enough are the statements that have been made, including that this is just a product of war,” he said. “This is against humanitarian law.”
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk asked Israel to pay compensation to the family of the Polish victim, demanding an “an immediate explanation of the circumstances and compensation for the victims’ relatives”, and in a social media post addressing Netanyahu said that a vast majority of Poles stood in solidarity with Israel following the October 7 attack by Hamas forces, but “Today you are putting this solidarity to a really hard test. The tragic attack on volunteers and your reaction arouse understandable anger.”
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also “demanded a thorough and transparent independent investigation”, while key political figures in both the governing Conservative Party and the opposition Labour Party supported calls for suspension of arms sale to Israel. Conservative MPs such as Flick Drummond, David Jones and Paul Bristow, as well as party elders Lord Soames and Lord Swire publicly called on the government to suspend arms export licences to the Middle Eastern country.
Israel was also condemned by the European Union, with Foreign Policy chief Josep Borrell and Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, issuing a joint statement urging “a swift implementation of the announced commitment by the Israeli authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure accountability for those who are responsible”.
Most watched was the reaction of US President who called the deaths of aid workers and the overall humanitarian situation in Gaza “unacceptable”. In a telephone call with Netanyahu, he warned that continuing US support would depend on “measurable steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering, and the safety of aid workers.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chairs a Cabinet meeting at the Kirya, which houses the Israeli Ministry of Defence, in Tel Aviv on December 17, 2023.
Photo credit: Menahem Kahana | AFP
The White House making public the contents of Biden’s telephone conversation Netanyahu and what amounts to an ultimatum is almost unprecedented in relations between the two countries, serving as an indicator of how strongly the US president feels about the issue.
Biden has on numerous occasions publicly made his concerns about Israeli action in Gaza which have resulted in over 30,000 deaths, devastated Gaza town and other urban areas, torn down roads, bridges and the transport infrastructure, bombed power and water utilities and even schools and hospitals. However, the US has continued to commit massive resources to military aid for Israel and arms sales have continued unabated.
This has now become a political problem for Biden in an election year as key liberal constituencies that form the bedrock of Democratic Party are increasingly questioning the governments continuing support for Israel and complicity in a war which many believe has gone beyond the principle of Israel’s right to defend itself.
A notable shift in the US position was witnessed on March 25 when the country abstained on a United Nations Security Council resolution demanding a ceasefire in Gaza during the Holy Month of Ramadan. The US has in the past habitually vetoed any motions against Israel, but for the first time chose to abstain on the resolution which duly passed by 14 votes in favour to none against, with one abstention. Resolution 2728 also called for the immediate release of Israel hostages abducted during the Hamas incursion, and for Israel to ensure humanitarian access to Gaza.
A month earlier, on February 20, the US vetoed a Security Council resolution put forward on behalf of Arab States by Algeria demanding “an immediate humanitarian ceasefire that must be respected by all parties”.
Israel has consistently rejected calls for a ceasefire insisting that it must first destroy the Hamas military capability. In this it has had unstinting support for key western allies, but this is about to change if frustrations evident over a war that has been characterised as genocide in anything to go by.
A White House briefing last week after the Biden-Netanyahu telephone call hinted strongly that the US would be taking a tougher line on Israel, even if not to the extent of halting arms shipments.
According to reports by several US media outlets, Biden is under increasing pressure in an election year to force to halt the Gaza carnage and move swiftly towards a peace deal which addresses the critical issue of Palestinian statehood.
Even Biden’s main election rival, his predecessor Donald Trump who has been a fierce defender of Israel, is changing his tune. In an interview with a conservative radio station last week, Trump said that Israel is “Losing the PR war. They’re losing it big”.
