Biden in Berlin: Hope for ceasefire in Lebanon, but Gaza remains difficult

Biden in Berlin: Hope for ceasefire in Lebanon, but Gaza remains difficult

In a dramatic moment of geopolitical tensions, US President Joe Biden has expressed his hopes for a de-escalation between Israel and Iran. While he met in Berlin with the leaders of Germany, France and the United Kingdom, Biden spoke about the opportunity to end the bloody conflicts in the Middle East. "In my opinion there is an opportunity - and my colleagues agree - that we can probably deal with Israel and Iran in a way that ends the conflict for a while," he said. But the Situation remains tense, and the prospects for an early armistice in the Gaza Strip are cloudy.

The words of the president could represent a turning point in US politics. A week ago, the Foreign Ministry had indicated that it no longer strives for a ceasefire between the Hisbollah and Israel. The Lebanese group is "under pressure" after several of its leaders were killed. This development could significantly change the dynamics in the conflict.

Iran and Israel: A dangerous game

The tensions between Iran and Israel have intensified dramatically in the past few weeks. On October 1, Tehran started a rocket attack on Israeli military goals as a retaliation for the killing of Hamas boss Ismail Haniyeh and the murder of Hisbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Biden confirmed that he was informed about the reactions of Israel, but when asked about details, he remained vague: "No and no."

The military attacks of Iran are not new. Already this year Tehran had fired hundreds of drones and rockets to Israel, in response to an air raid to an Iranian consulate in Damascus, in which seven people died. The possibility of an Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear or oil systems could drive global oil prices up and a lot of strain on the American consumers. This could have a negative impact on the choice of Bidens Vice President Kamala Harris.

ceasefire in the Gaza Strip: a further dream?

In terms of the Gaza Strip, bidges remains skeptical. After the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in a fire battle with Israeli troops, he signaled that an armistice was not imminent. "We think there is a way to work on a armistice in Lebanon," he said. "But it becomes more difficult in the Gaza Strip, and we agree that there must be a result - what happens the day after?"

The Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip has already cost more than 42,500 Palestinians and put large parts of the area in rubble. Israel is also exposed to accusations to carry out ethnic cleansing in northern Gazas, where it has commanded people to flee and all humanitarian aid have been set.

The United States supports Israel annually with at least $ 3.8 billion in military aid, and since the beginning of the war in the Gaza Strip in early October 2023, Biden has approved an additional $ 14 billion. While Washington warns of an expansion of the conflict, it also shows support for Israel's tireless bombardments and soil offensives in Lebanon.

Despite considerable losses in its upper military and political ranks, including its boss Hassan Nasrallah, the Hisbollah demanded severe losses among the Israeli forces. The group continued to fire missiles on Israel, which extend to the suburbs of Tel Aviv. On Thursday, the Hisbollah announced that it will be confronted with Israel into a new "escalating phase" of the confrontation.