The Israel-Gaza war continues unabated and at least 40,691 people have been killed and 94,060 wounded in Israel’s war on Gaza. Most of the victims are women and children. Earlier, an estimated 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the Hamas-led attacks on October 7. Hamas also took about 250 hostages, according to Israel.

Israel's later assault on the Hamas-governed enclave has since killed more than 40,600 Palestinians, according to the local health ministry. The entire Gaza population of 2.3 million has been displaced and the enclave has a hunger crisis. Israel faces genocide allegations at the World Court that it denies. Israeli strikes on August 31, 2024, killed at least 48 people in the Gaza Strip.[1]

Emergency services are still unable to reach many casualties and dead bodies trapped under the rubble or scattered on roads across the war-torn enclave, as Israeli occupation forces continue to obstruct the movement of ambulance and civil defense crews.[2]

The deadly war in Gaza has left a long trail of victims among humanitarian workers. More than 280 aid workers have been killed since the war began in October, most of them Gazan staff members of UNRWA, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees.

Earlier, in April, Israeli drones fired three missiles at a convoy of trucks, marked with the logo of the nonprofit World Central Kitchen, which was transporting aid workers affiliated with that group, killing seven people.[3] Criticism was now mounting over the reckless operation by the Israeli military.

Meanwhile, violence in the West Bank has soared since the war in Gaza erupted on October 7 after the Palestinian group Hamas attacked Israel. But even before that, the West Bank, occupied by Israel since 1967, was the scene of regular violence. The Israeli military initially sent bulldozers to tear up tarmac streets, sending clouds of dust over the targeted areas. The Israeli military is officially forbidden from entering West Bank cities and refugee camps, which are autonomous zones under the control of the Palestinian Authority.

In the 10 months preceding October 7, the United Nations recorded 200 Palestinians killed by Israeli soldiers and settlers in the West Bank, which at the time was the highest toll during a period of that length since it began compiling such data in 2005. Since October 7, around 640 Palestinians have been killed in the territory, according to the UN. Three million Palestinians live in the West Bank, as well as half a million Israeli Jews in settlements considered illegal under international law.[4]

On August 28, the Israeli army launched its largest military offensive since 2002 in several West Bank cities and refugee camps. At least 19 Palestinians have been killed so far in the raids. Tensions have been high across the occupied West Bank amid a brutal Israeli offensive in which at least 670 Palestinians have been killed, 5,400 injured, and over 10,300 arrested in the occupied territory.[5] International criticism was mounting over the operation.

The war has caused a serious dispute within the Israeli government leadership. A bitter dispute about the conditions for a hostage and ceasefire deal in Gaza erupted between Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Gallant on August 29. The two men argued furiously over whether, as part of any deal, the Israeli military should leave the Philadelphia, which is 8.7-mile that runs along the border between Gaza and Egypt. The Philadelphia corridor is currently controlled by the IDF. The deployment of Israeli troops along the corridor during the first phase of a ceasefire agreement has been a major point of contention between Israel and Hamas, with Hamas saying Israeli troops must withdraw from the border zone.[6] Thus, Netanyahu is losing support from within his leadership ranks.

Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris told CNN on August 29 that a ceasefire and hostage release deal was needed in Gaza. She reiterated support for Israel and kept her position that “too many innocent Palestinians have been killed.” Harris said that she would not change US President Joe Biden’s policy on supplying Israel with arms for its war in Gaza if elected in November. [7]Vice President Kamala Harris said on August 29 that: “I’m unequivocal and unwavering in my commitment to Israel’s defense, and its ability to defend itself, and that’s not going to change”.[8]

Kamala’s unwavering support for Israel as it continues its military campaign in Gaza is igniting calls for renewed protests at her campaign events, universities, and public gatherings. Harris is disregarding pro-Palestinian perspectives, further increasing discontent among these groups.

As expected, Arab Americans, Muslims, and their allies were denied a speaking platform at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Demonstrations are now expected to stage demonstrations across major cities and university campuses on October 7, marking the anniversary of the Hamas attack. On August 29, activists disrupted Kamala’s speech in Savannah, Georgia. Kamala’s firm stance on this issue risks deepening the divisions within the Democratic Party. In the future, these tensions could weaken the coalition of voters needed to win the 2024 election.[9]

Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, the first Palestinian-American woman elected to the US Congress, criticized Harris, saying: "That's right. War crimes and genocide will continue."

Despite Harris’ team saying that they have engaged with pro-Palestinian advocates, the dissatisfaction within these communities is still strong. Protests that earlier shocked college campuses are beginning to resurface in key states like Michigan and Pennsylvania. Democratic insiders are concerned that Harris could lose crucial votes in the November 5 presidential election. Meanwhile, pro-Palestinian student protests have resumed at Columbia University, a hotspot for activism. The Muslim vote bank is now crucial for Kamala’s victory. An estimated one million Muslim voters took part in the 2020 US presidential election, with approximately 70% backing Biden. Many of these voters are concentrated in battleground states, and their support could be critical for Harris. However, disillusionment within these communities is growing, with some shifting their support to third-party candidates.[10]

What next? The world’s public opinion has turned against Israel’s aggression in Palestine. The world's leadership, except Netanyahu, now wants a ceasefire and an end to the war. Netanyahu still wants a total victory of sorts over Hamas and the release of the Israeli hostages. However, he cannot achieve the desired annihilation of Hamas simply because of its deep roots in Gaza. Hamas is more than just a militia as it symbolizes the very idea of resistance to Israeli's illegal occupation of Palestinian land. Many world leaders and political analysts agree with this argument. The Biden Administration is still trying to get a ceasefire deal done between Hamas and Israel. It is not likely to happen as the distrust between the Palestinians and the Israelis is just too much. America has no credibility as an honest broker that could facilitate a peace deal to end the conflict. Meanwhile, the US stance is still confusing. On the one hand, it is desperately trying to achieve a ceasefire. Recently, Secretary Blinken was on his tenth trip to the region to achieve just that. However, the negotiations in Cairo helped by Egypt and Qatar have stalled. As expected, Hamas and Israel blame each other for it. On the other hand, the US is Israel’s staunchest supporter of the war providing it with the armaments needed to towage it. As a result, the US has lost its credibility, and the Palestinians do not trust it. The Biden administration is no longer an honest broker who wants the war to end. Many now see it simply as a cover to give Israel more time to get the job done, as seen by Netanyahu. No one trusts the Biden administration anymore because of its actions. Given the politics of the November presidential elections, the Biden administration will not take any strong action to deter Israel from committing further aggression in Gaza and the West Bank. The only country in the world that can stop Israel from the killing of the Palestinian people is the US, but it will not act when it is most required. The politics of the elections will triumph over any tangible action toward ending the tragic war. It needs to be reiterated that only a two-state solution can bring peace to the region. Nothing else can. But it will not happen as Israel will not stop unless and until it is forced to do so. Meanwhile, shame on the Arab and Muslim world, for not raising their voices forcefully in support of a ceasefire and the eventual independence of Palestine. That is tragic, indeed. Thus, the Israeli aggression against Gazans and Palestinians in the West Bank shall continue with impunity. It is a tragedy that can be yet avoided provided the Biden administration acts forcefully to thwart Israeli aggression in Gaza and the West Bank. However, it is not likely to happen anytime soon. The cost to America is going to be the further loss of overall influence in the greater Middle East, the Islamic region, and the even greater global South. We wish it were otherwise.

Dr. Sohail Mahmood is a political analyst located in Chapel Hill, NC.

[1] Death toll across Gaza surges to 40,691, over 94,060 wounded, WAFA, August 31, 2024, https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/148697 and Israeli army kills 12 Palestinians in Gaza; Civil Defense rescue teams recover 9 bodies from areas vacated by Israeli forces earlier on Friday, Anadolu AgencyAugust 31, 2024, https://tribune.com.pk/story/2492498/israeli-army-kills-12-palestinians-in-gaza. ; ‘We are another Gaza’ : Palestinians in shock after Israeli raid on West Bank, MuslimMirror, August 31, 2024, https://muslimmirror.com/eng/we-are-another-gaza-palestinians-in-shock-after-israeli-raid-on-west-bank/ and Nidal al-Mughrabi in Cairo and Mohammed Salem , “Israeli bombardment kills dozens in Gaza as health officials prepare polio campaign”, Reuters, August 31, 2024, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-bombardment-kills-dozens-gaza-health-officials-prepare-polio-campaign-2024-08-31/

[2] Death toll across Gaza surges to 40,691, over 94,060 wounded.WAFA, August 31, 2024, https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/148697

[3][3]Raja Abdulrahim and Aaron Boxerman, “Crisis: Israeli Strike Hits Aid Convoy, Killing Four in Lead Vehicle,” New York Times, August 30, 2024

[4] https://muslimmirror.com/eng/we-are-another-gaza-palestinians-in-shock-after-israeli-raid-on-west-bank/

[5] Israeli actions in Gaza, West Bank makes situation worse: France, Anadolu AgencyAugust 31, 2024, https://tribune.com.pk/story/2492504/israeli-actions-in-gaza-west-bank-makes-situation-worse-france-1#google_vignette

[7] Israel-Gaza war: Opening summary, The Guardian, August 31, 2024.

[8] Middle East Crisis: Israeli Strike Hits Aid Convoy, Killing Four in Lead Vehicle, Aug. 30, 2024

[9] Growing discontent: Harris support for Israel sparks fresh wave of demonstrations, Reuters, August 31, 2024, https://tribune.com.pk/story/2492435/growing-discontent-harris-support-for-israel-sparks-fresh-wave-of-demonstrations

[10] Ibid