administration continues to emphasize that it is not yet time to demand a ceasefire, and maintains its position that the goal of the fighting should be the defeat of Hamas. Contrary to this position and different from the statements made so far by most European leaders, French President Emmanuel Macron called on Israel to "stop killing babies and women" and stated that "a ceasefire will benefit it." It is not clear whether his call constitutes a turning point in the demand for a ceasefire and whether it will also translate into concrete moves in the Security Council.
For its part, the US administration is under increasing pressure, both in the US domestic arena and in the international arena, but it seems that for now the Israeli decision to extend the humanitarian lulls in the Gaza Strip meets its demands and thus allows it room to maneuver in the face of the growing pressure. And yet, alongside the IDF’s military success, the conduct of the Israeli government plays a decisive role in influencing the political hourglass, since beyond the humanitarian issue and the assessment of military achievements, the administration emphasizes the issue of "the day after."
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken presented the principles of "the day after" at a press conference at the conclusion of G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Tokyo: "The United States believes key elements should include no forcible displacement of Palestinians from Gaza – not now, not after the war. No use of Gaza as a platform for terrorism or other violent attacks. No reoccupation of Gaza after the conflict ends. No attempt to blockade or besiege Gaza." Blinken emphasized that "we must also ensure no terrorist threats can emanate from the West Bank,” adding: “We must also work on the affirmative elements to get to a sustained peace. These must include the Palestinian people’s voices and aspirations at the center of post-crisis governance in Gaza. It must include Palestinian-led governance and Gaza unified with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority.” According to him, the solution “must include a sustained mechanism for reconstruction in Gaza, and a pathway to Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in states of their own, with equal measures of security, freedom, opportunity, and dignity.”
One can get the impression that the Biden administration, which already at the start of the campaign recognized it as an opportunity to establish a new architecture in the Middle East, does not intend to back down from its demand to start discussing its advancement "already today." Israeli disregard for this US demand, and certainly statements by ministers in the government such as "a nuclear bomb” and "2023 Nakba," along with Prime Minister Netanyahu's statement ruling out in advance the possibility of giving the Palestinian Authority a role in "the day after," harm the efforts to ensure continued international support for the military moves and postpone as much as possible the demand for a ceasefire. Beyond the statement that Israel intends to maintain security control over the Strip, Israel should quickly present a practical political goal for the day after that takes into account the US position.