Geostrategic Media Political Commentary, Analysis, Security, Defense
Dr. Shehab Al Makahleh
US President Joe Biden’s efforts to broker a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict have hit a wall, and the person standing firmly in the way is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The months of diplomatic back-and-forth between Washington and Tel Aviv have led to a deepening rift, with Biden openly expressing his frustration with Netanyahu’s refusal to advance the peace process. When asked if Netanyahu was doing enough to secure a truce, Biden’s terse “No” spoke volumes.
Behind the scenes, US officials are losing patience, accusing Netanyahu of continuously adding conditions to straightforward ceasefire proposals. As the stalemate drags on, there is talk of Biden putting forward a final ceasefire proposal by the weekend, warning that the US cannot keep negotiating indefinitely.
Netanyahu’s response was swift and defensive. In a televised statement, he claimed that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had praised Israel’s ceasefire proposals as “extraordinary.” His only caveat, Netanyahu explained, was the need to maintain troops on the Gaza-Egypt border to prevent Hamas from rearming—a point he insists is critical to ensuring that the horrific events of October 7, 2023, are never repeated.
This tense exchange highlights not just a tactical disagreement between two supposed allies but also a deep-seated mistrust that has been brewing for years. Biden and Netanyahu’s differences extend back to the Obama administration, where Netanyahu publicly defied then-President Barack Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran. Today, those old wounds are reopening, with both leaders driven by pressing political needs at home.
Biden, facing the end of his presidency and mounting pressure from his own party to step down from the 2024 race, is desperate to salvage his foreign policy legacy. A major Middle East peace breakthrough, reminiscent of the successes of Presidents Carter and Clinton, would provide the kind of international acclaim he needs to end his political career on a high note.
But Netanyahu has his own priorities, and they don’t include paving the way for a Palestinian state. For decades, Netanyahu has staunchly opposed the idea, viewing it as a threat to Israel’s existence. His focus has been on ensuring Israel’s security through military strength, a stance that has only hardened since the brutal October 7 attack by Hamas.
As Biden’s two-state solution fades into irrelevance, Netanyahu is moving forward with a plan of his own—a plan that could permanently alter the landscape of the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu’s vision isn’t about peace but about control. He is laying the groundwork for a permanent military occupation of Gaza, a strategy designed to create “facts on the ground” that would make the establishment of a Palestinian state an impossibility.
This plan is already taking shape. Israeli military engineers are carving out a buffer zone inside Gaza’s eastern and northern borders, leveling trees and buildings to create a no-man’s land. This operation, which has already consumed about 16% of Gaza’s territory, is just the beginning.
Netanyahu’s project also includes constructing an east-west road that bisects the Gaza Strip, effectively dividing it into two parts: the densely populated north and the sparsely populated south. Israeli forces will control this route, complete with crossing points and surveillance towers, ensuring tight control over movement within the enclave.
But the most controversial aspect of Netanyahu’s plan is his proposal to reoccupy the Philadelphi Corridor, a strip of land along the Gaza-Egypt border. This area has long been a flashpoint, with tunnels used by Hamas to smuggle weapons and supplies. Netanyahu argues that controlling this corridor is essential to Israel’s security, but his proposal has met with resistance from Egypt, which insists on maintaining the current border arrangements.
Netanyahu’s push to reoccupy Gaza is a clear attempt to reverse history. Israel’s previous occupation of Gaza, which ended in 2005, was abandoned after years of low-intensity conflict with Palestinian militants. Now, Netanyahu is determined to rectify what he sees as a strategic mistake by reestablishing Israeli control over the strip.
Some Israeli commentators support Netanyahu’s vision, framing it as a necessary step to “de-Hamasify” Gaza. They argue that just as Germany underwent a long process of denazification after World War II, Gaza must undergo a similar transformation to rid itself of Hamas’s influence. But others see this plan as nothing more than a pretext for deepening Israel’s control over Palestinian territories, not just in Gaza but also in the West Bank.
As Israeli forces carry out “preemptive” raids in the West Bank’s major towns, building roads to facilitate military operations, the parallels between the Gaza and West Bank occupations become increasingly clear. Netanyahu’s strategy seems aimed at entrenching Israel’s presence in both territories, making the idea of a Palestinian state little more than a distant dream.
In the end, Biden’s push for a two-state solution appears doomed, with Netanyahu driving the final nail into its coffin. While Biden struggles to salvage his legacy, Netanyahu is reshaping the region in a way that could have lasting consequences for decades to come. The peace that Biden envisioned may never come to pass, and the reality on the ground is one of permanent occupation and unending conflict.
