Today an Israeli air strike on a school building sheltering displaced Palestinians in Gaza city has killed more than 70 people. According to many experts this strike shows that Israel has no desire to reach a ceasefire or end the Gaza war. Salim Oweis, spokesman of the UN children’s agency, UNICEF told the BBC the attack was really outrageous. “The school was packed with civilians, children, mothers and families, who are taking refuge in any empty space whether it’s a school or it’s a mosque.”
According to the United States, 447 out of 564 school buildings in Gaza had been directly hit or damaged as of 6 July.
The war in Gaza is impacting American politics. Earlier this week Kamala Harris said she was not considering an arms embargo on Israel, this statement came from her campaign team about her program for the Middle East.
In Detroit, Kamala Harris was interrupted by pro-Palestinian activists shouting “we will not vote for genocide!”
“She does not favor an arms embargo on Israel,” said Phil Gordon, Harris’ national security adviser. According to him, the vice president “has been clear: she will always ensure that Israel is able to defend itself against Iran and the terrorist groups supported by Iran.” (translation from French Canadian Newspaper, La Presse)
The United States remains by far Israel’s largest military supporter, but has divided the Democratic camp, particularly since the devastating offensive led by this country in the Gaza Strip, in response to the bloody attack by Hamas on Israeli soil on October 7.
Kamala Harris met with anti-war activists in Michigan, a key swing state she hopes to win in November’s race against Republican Donald Trump and which has a large Arab population.
Denouncing the humanitarian disaster in Gaza and Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory, the Democratic left is pushing for a change in direction on the thorny issue.
Earlier this summer, after a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Harris promised that she would “not remain silent” on the “tragedies” of Gaza, a territory besieged and relentlessly bombed by Israel for ten months.
Washington fails to control Israel, under President Joe Biden, the White House has suspended only one delivery of heavy bombs to Israel.
According to Limor Simhony is a freelance writer at the UK conservatism newspapers The Spectator, although Netanyahu and Trump enjoyed a good relationship in the past, relations have soured after Netanyahu congratulated Biden on his win in 2020. Trump criticised Netanyahu handling of the war and has openly said that others within Israeli politics are better suited to lead the country. He also argued that Netanyahu has no intention of making peace with the Palestinians.
Trump doesn’t have Biden’s long term commitment to the Jewish State. His is a far more utilitarian stance. Therefore, in trying to force a (so far) defiant Netanyahu into a ceasefire deal with Hamas, Trump may place greater pressure on Netanyahu than Biden has – and will be more likely to act on his threats. (The Spectator)