In a recent series of crucial meetings, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan held discussions with both Israeli leaders and Mahmoud Abbas, leader of the Palestinian Authority. This follows the October 7th terror attack that sparked off the current conflict, with Israel seeking to dismantle the Hamas network.
Sullivan's dialogue with the Israeli government was to, reportedly, get a status update on the war and ascertain its trajectory. The U.S. authorities have exhibited concerns about the humanitarian crisis and civilian casualty rate due to Israel's military operations. The primary query from the US side pertained to the duration of this intense phase of military incursion.
The Biden administration, through Sullivan, communicated its expectation for a shift from the high-intensity phase of the conflict — characterised by heavy bombings and intense battles with Hamas — towards a lower-intensity phase. The transition into this phase would be determined by existing conditions and would focus on targeted operations against Hamas leadership, relying heavily on intelligence.
However, Israeli authorities have hinted at no such forthcoming transition, stating that the conflict could extend over several months. Sullivan noted that this does not contradict with the anticipation of the tougher phase of the conflict giving way to a focused, lower-intensity phase.
Meanwhile, complicating the situation further, Sullivan engaged in talks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Given the inevitable vacuum of power in Gaza and the West Bank as a result of the conflict-ending, the facilitation of a revitalized Palestinian Authority is seen as required by the U.S. This creates a conundrum, as the Israeli government has expressed no desire to see Abbas, or the Palestinian Authority itself, in charge of these territories.
These conversations indicate, beyond the conflicts and power struggles, the complex negotiating dynamics at play and the inherent challenges of defining what the post-conflict scene might look like in Palestine. The future governance and control of Gaza and the West Bank, thus, loom large as significant questions in this intricate geopolitical landscape.
