Israel-Hamas War Threatens to Derail US Plans for Broader Middle East Peace

A protester waves U.S. and Israeli national flags during a demonstration in front of the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv, as Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in New York to meet President Joe Biden, on Sept. 20, 2023. Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images

The recent surge in hostilities between Israel and Hamas, designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, poses a significant challenge to American aspirations for peace in the broader Middle East.

On Oct. 20, President Joe Biden attributed Hamas’s attacks on Israel to the group’s desire to hinder the emerging ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Biden has actively facilitated discussions between Jerusalem and Riyadh, most notably announcing a collaborative plan for shipping corridors during September’s G20 summit in India.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commended President Biden, stating, “I think that under your leadership, Mr. President, we can forge a historic peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia.”

A potential peace accord between Saudi Arabia and Israel would represent a diplomatic milestone, potentially paving the way for other Arab nations to officially recognize Israel. However, Hamas’s multi-pronged attack on Israeli territory near Gaza on Oct. 7 has seriously compromised this diplomatic progress.

In response to the attacks, Netanyahu declared a “state of war,” pledging to “target all of Hamas’s positions” and stating, “We will turn Gaza into a deserted island.” Consequently, Saudi Arabia has reportedly put its diplomatic overtures toward Israel on hold, casting doubt on the viability of the United States’s carefully orchestrated peace roadmap.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks from Tel Aviv, Israel, on Oct. 7, 2023. Israeli Ministry of Defence/Video keyframe via Reuters

The Evolving Israel-Arab Relationship: From Animosity to Reconciliation

Israel has faced opposition from its Arab neighbors since its establishment on May 15, 1948. A day after its founding, Israel was invaded by a coalition of countries, including Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and Jordan, as well as Palestinian militias. Despite these hostilities, Israel survived, albeit at the cost of nearly 1 percent of its population.

The years 1948 to 1982 saw Israel and various Arab states engage in five major conflicts, with the Yom Kippur War of 1973 being the most significant. Spearheaded by Egypt, Syria, and Jordan, the attacks on Israel were eventually repelled by Israeli forces.

The Camp David Accords, mediated by then-U.S. President Jimmy Carter, mark the most successful peace agreement between Israel and an Arab nation—Egypt—to this day. After Egypt, the next nation to exit the anti-Israel coalition was Jordan. Jordan initially provided sanctuary to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) but later expelled them due to subversive activities aimed at overthrowing the Hashemite dynasty. Relations between Jordan and Israel have since warmed considerably.

US Spearheads Broader Middle East Peace Initiatives

Since recognizing Israel upon its establishment in 1948, the United States has been instrumental in fostering peace between Israel and Arab countries. A milestone was achieved on Sept. 15, 2020, under U.S. President Donald Trump, with the signing of the Abraham Accords between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain. The landmark agreement rejuvenated the normalization of relations with Israel and rekindled hopes for peace following the Camp David Accords.

Subsequent announcements from Sudan and Morocco to normalize relations with Israel in October and December 2020 further underscored a shifting paradigm in the Middle East.

In March 2022, the United States initiated the Negev Forum, which includes Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, Morocco, the UAE, and the United States. The forum aims to foster regional integration, cooperation, and development.

In July 2022, President Biden visited Saudi Arabia, proposing the normalization of ties between Riyadh and Jerusalem. Such a historic agreement could serve as a catalyst for additional Arab nations to reconsider their stance on Israel. As an incentive, the United States offered military protection to Saudi Arabia, further solidifying its commitment to establishing a broader Middle East peace.

(L-R)Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. President Donald Trump, Bahrain Foreign Minister Abdullatif al-Zayani, and UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan wave from the Truman Balcony at the White House after they participated in the signing of the Abraham Accords where the countries of Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates recognize Israel, in Washington, on Sept. 15, 2020. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

Iran and Hamas: Obstacles to Middle East Peace

However, not all parties are keen on these developments; notably, Iran and Hamas have expressed opposition.

David, an Israeli businessman who chose to remain anonymous, told The Epoch Times, “The United States is facilitating a transformation, particularly in the relationship between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Iran sees the normalization of these relations as a serious threat to its interests.”

He added, “Iran leverages multiple proxy groups to destabilize the region. Whether it’s Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthi forces in Yemen, or Iranian-backed militias in Syria and Iraq, they all aim to extend Iran’s influence while complicating the peace-building efforts.”

Reports suggest that Iranian security officials were involved in planning Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7. The operation was allegedly greenlit during a meeting in Beirut on Oct. 2, where representatives from various Iran-backed groups, including Hamas and Hezbollah, fine-tuned their strategies.

Since August, officers from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have reportedly collaborated with Hamas to strategize various military operations, both terrestrial and maritime. Meetings in Beirut with multiple Iran-backed groups further elucidate the coordinated efforts to destabilize the region.

The father of Valentin (Eli) Ghnassia, 23, who was killed in a battle with Hamas militants at Kibbutz Be’eeri near the Israeli border with the Gaza Strip cries next to the casket before it is lowered during his funeral at Mount Herzl Military Cemetary in Jerusalem, Israel, on Oct. 12, 2023. Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images

China’s Ambiguous Stance Raises Concerns in Israel, Fracturing of Sino-Israeli Relations

Following the devastating attack by Hamas, which resulted in the loss of 1,400 Israeli lives and the taking of 200 hostages, China has abstained from condemning Hamas. Instead, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) criticized Israel for what it termed “excessive retaliation.”

On Oct. 8, Yuval Waks, a senior diplomat at the Israeli embassy in Beijing, conveyed Israel’s expectation for China to issue a “stronger condemnation” against Hamas. By Oct. 12, the Israeli Foreign Ministry informed Zhai Jun, China’s Special Envoy on Middle East Affairs, that China’s official stance was considered inadequate and dismissive of a nation’s right to self-defense.

On Oct. 14, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reiterated the accusation, stating that Israel’s actions had gone beyond the bounds of self-defense.

David, speaking to The Epoch Times, revealed widespread frustration in Israel towards China. Anti-Semitic sentiment appears to have gained traction on Chinese social media. For example, video blogger Su Lin likened Israel to Nazis and endorsed the view that Hamas was “too weak,” comments that circulate seemingly without official censorship.

Despite efforts from Israelis to counteract such disinformation on Chinese platforms, David likened the struggle to “a cup of water trying to extinguish a forest fire.”

According to David, the recent developments signify the most severe crisis in China-Israel relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. He predicts a change in the bilateral relationship moving forward.

Anders Corr, founder of Corr Analytics, advised Israel to reconsider its perception of China as a friend. Carl Schuster, a former Operations Director at the United States Indo-Pacific Command, noted that the conflict diverts U.S. attention from Asia-Pacific, where China seeks to expand its influence. According to Schuster, Beijing is leveraging the Palestinian issue to distance key U.S. allies, such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt, from the United States.