War in Gaza: distancing between Israel and the US over abstention at the UN

The war in Gaza has triggered a serious rift between two historic allies: Israel and the United States. The recent abstention of the U.S. delegation in front of a United Nations Security Council resolution on a ceasefire in the Palestinian enclave has generated tensions and led to the cancellation of a high-level trip that aimed to address issues related to the military campaign in the region. The Israeli military offensive in Gaza, triggered by Hamas terrorist attacks last October, has resulted in a staggering number of deaths, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, although this figure is disputed by Israel due to Hamas control over the organization. The prioritization of civilian protection in Gaza by the Biden Administration has marked a turning point in the traditional relationship of unconditional U.S. support towards Israel. The U.S. abstention in the Security Council resolution, which sought a ceasefire during Ramadan without linking it to the release of hostages, has been interpreted as a setback in the U.S. position and has been strongly criticized by the Israeli government, which considers it detrimental to its military efforts and the release of hostages held by Hamas. Behind this decision, there may be both humanitarian reasons, related to concern for the civilian population in Gaza, and political reasons, linked to President Biden's electoral interests. Internal pressure from the Democratic Party, represented by movements like the 'uncommitted', which criticize U.S. unconditional support for Israel during the war, has forced Biden to make declarative and practical moves to satisfy his electoral base. This distancing between Israel and the United States highlights the complexities of international relations in a context of regional conflicts and power struggles. Over the years, the relationship between the two countries has experienced ups and downs, and Netanyahu is no stranger to challenging the U.S. government in critical situations, as he did in the past with the nuclear agreement with Iran. In a scenario marked by the war in Gaza, tensions between Israel and the United States add to a multifaceted conflict that questions stability and cooperation in the region. The political and diplomatic decisions made by both parties will have repercussions not only locally, but also in the international context, where the alliance between these two countries has historically been crucial.