FOLLOWING the failure of the UN Security Council to adopt  the Russian and Brazilian resolutions on the Gaza war, all eyes were on US President Joe Biden’s visit to the Middle East, particularly Israel, on October 17 to prevent the humanitarian crisis in Palestine from becoming a catastrophe. 

White House spokesman John Kirby said Biden will be asking some tough questions, “he’ll be asking them as a friend, as a true friend of Israel, but he’ll be asking some tough questions of them.” 

These statements underscore the commitment of the US to address civilian casualties and ensure that Israel’s actions align with humanitarian principles.

Biden has said that any move by Israel to occupy Gaza with troops would be a “big mistake”, and that there should be a path to a Palestinian state.

Biden’s trip was a disaster! He couldnt even get Israel to agree to open a corridor for humanitarian aid to be delivered to Gaza.

And to make matters worse, he contributed to an escalation of tensions when he said that the October 17 explosion at the al-Ahli Arab Christian Hospital in Gaza o appeared to have been the work of the “other team.” 

The comments came across as flippant given the horror that unfolded in the hospital, which was packed even before the blast.

And more importantly, it further eroded Biden’s capacity as a mediator to ease tensions in the region.

Then he was snubbed by leaders of Jordan, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority when they declined to have a summit with him because of his careless attitude to the casualties of the hospital bombing.

However, more worrying was the October 17 statement from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that his country had used US-supplied long-range army tactical missile system missiles in its conflict with Russia. 

Earlier in the day, the Wall Street Journal reported that Washington had “secretly” supplied Kiev with the weapons.

The response from Vladimir Putin was fast and furious when he told journalists the next day that he had ordered warplanes to patrol the neutral airspace over the Black Sea.

“Our MiG-31 planes are armed with Kinzhal missile systems. It is known that they have a range of over 1,000km and a Mach-9 speed,” he said at a press conference in Beijing.

The announcement was not meant as a threat, Putin said, but rather a reaction to escalating instability, particularly in the Middle East with the US deployment of two aircraft carrier strike groups to the Mediterranean Sea.

As made clear by Putin, the range of the hypersonic weapons puts the eastern part of that sea within striking distance of the Russian patrols.

In an interview with CBS News after his return from Israel, Biden urged the audience to imagine a future in which “we, in fact, unite all of Europe and Putin is finally put down,” claiming it was achievable.

At the height of the volatile situation in the Middle East, Biden is still obsessed with Ukraine and defeating Russia in its proxy war in Ukraine.

Already there were reports of drone and missile attacks on US airbases in Syria and Iraq targeting the quarters of the troops there.

And the US is retaliating with missile attacks on Syria using the one warship that is in the Mediterranean, allegedly justifying it as a defensive attack against Yemeni Houthis who are directing missiles at Israel. 

For the record, the US is illegally occupying part of Syria and stealing its oils and grains. 

It really looks like Biden has squandered his visit to the Middle East and with it the last window of opportunity to contain the volatile situation there.

Rumours abound of a planned humanitarian convoy to help the besieged Palestinians in Gaza organised by Egypt with Russian troops for protection.

Another widespread rumour on the internet is a humanitarian ship convoy on the way to Gaza, this time by Turkey with the aid and protection of Russian and Turkish navies. Whether this is true, only time will tell.

Some analysts are saying it is still possible to prevent war if and only if, the US plays the role of a trusted and impartial third party to bring about a pause in Israel’s relentless attacks on Gaza and talks Israel out of going ahead with its ground invasion of Gaza

A New York Times report of a US warning to Israel against any major attack on Hezbollah is perhaps an indication of cooler heads  in the Biden administration attempting to stop the crisis from developing into a war among major powers. – October 28, 2023.

* Jamari Mohtar reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.