Policy Maker’s Motivations for the Continuation of the War in Gaza

Neve Walker
Staff Writer

Recently, the United States military launched dozens of air assaults on different sites in Syria and Iraq that are occupied by Iranian-backed militia and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. This strike comes in retaliation to an initial drone strike that killed three U.S. troops in Jordan, as reported by The Associated Press. The U.S. coordinated strikes hit 85 targets at seven different locations, including intelligence centers, drone and ammunition storage sites, command and control headquarters, and other facilities that were connected to the militias. Because of these strikes, there will be increased conflict involving Middle Eastern countries and the U.S., yet this does not seem to be an issue for certain politicians who are capitalizing on the war.

“Our response began today. It will continue at times and places of our choosing,” U.S. President Joe Biden warned as reported by The Associated Press, adding, “let all those who might seek to do us harm know this: If you harm an American, we will respond.” These attacks are related to the U.S.’s relentless support of Israel, and the sympathy to the Palestinian caused by several militant groups originating outside of just Israel. With tensions rising between the Israel-Lebanon border, and groups such as the Houthis from Yemen and Hezbollah from Lebanon militant groups joining in to fight against American influence in this area of the world, potentially larger conflicts are looming ahead, waiting for someone to make the first move. 

Now, with the war in Gaza and the unwavering support the Biden Administration is providing to Israel the U.S. citizens are facing the consequences, especially military personnel that are at higher risk for further drone strikes. Furthermore, the conflict in Gaza has turned the U.S. into a more divided country. According to Gallup, 41 percent of U.S. citizens believe we are doing the right amount of aid, 39 percent believe we are not giving enough aid, and 19 percent believe we are giving too much aid. Along these same lines, 47 percent of US citizens view Benjamin Netanyahu, prime minister of Israel, unfavorably.

Many U.S. politicians have taken advantage of different crises with the goal to grow their wealth. In cases of foreign wars, this is not an exception. An example of this abuse of power is President Elect Niki Haley. During her time as a state legislator in 2009, Haley supported an economic development package valued at up to $900 million to go to Boeing, a defense contractor, with $120 million more a few years later. She then joined Boeing’s board of directors in 2019, after her time serving as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, making important decisions regarding peace around the world. 

One of Haley’s biggest actions serving as the ambassador was removing the U.S. from the Council of Human Rights, because of its criticism towards Israel. According to The Human Rights Watch, Nikki Haley “vigorously defended egregious Israeli abuses.” As a result of these actions, Haley was able to create a small fortune, like many other politicians who have invested in war manufacturers. For Haley specifically, her primary income has come from a lobbyist group, United Against a Nuclear Iran. This advocacy group lobbied in favor of military strikes on Iran.

The U.S. has had a close relationship with Israel since it achieved statehood in 1948 and the war in Gaza has further increased U.S. support. The U.S. has issued support in three main ways: diplomatically, financially, and militarily says Vox.

Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, told Netanyahu that “you [Israel] may be strong enough on your own to defend yourself, but as long as America exists, you will never ever have to.”

This is hardly the first time the U.S. has gotten involved in conflicts in the Middle East. Since 1928, with the Red Line Agreement, the U.S. has invested interest in the region for its oil reserves, according to the U.S. Office of the Historian. Yet because of the U.S.’s involvement in the Iranian Revolution, the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan, and other tensions in the Middle East, the U.S. became increasingly more involved in such affairs, which was further exemplified after 9/11 and the War of Terror. 

Whether it is morally right or wrong for the United States to further support Israel during the Hamas conflict is not for me to decide, yet the fact remains that policy makers are financially benefiting from continued strife and conflict, especially in the Middle Eastern region. Because the United States politicians benefit from increased conflict in that area, the US will continue to aid in the continuation of the war.