Is Biden changing his stance on the Gaza war in order to please Arab American and Muslim voters?

Political leaders often adjust their positions on various issues for a variety of reasons, including responding to shifting public opinion, new information, or changes in the political landscape.

In Biden’s case it is a combination of all the factors especially as he is becoming unpopular among about half of US adults and a growing number of Arab-Americans.

But will his latest caution to Israel and the recent remarks he made about Islamophobia sway them back to his camp?

The facts

Since the start of the war on October 7, 2023, President Joe Biden has portrayed himself as Israel’s steadfast ally, prepared to provide it with all the resources it requires to wage war on the struggling Palestinian territories.

Early in the battle, the president and his closest aides attempted to downplay the growing number of casualties in Gaza. As the conflict dragged on and the number of civilian deaths rose, this stance somewhat changed.

According to the health ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza, more than 31,000 people have died in the Israeli offensive that followed. This has forced nearly all 2.3 million residents of the coastal enclave to flee and has created a famine crisis.

Arab-American and Muslim voters are also furious with Biden for his steadfast support of Israel, saying they will not be going to the polls. Muslims in significant US states also started the #AbandonBiden movement in response to the US president’s reluctance to demand a ceasefire in Gaza.

The arguments

Appeals for and discussions of a ceasefire in the tumultuous Gaza region are still ongoing but Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu is adamant on maintaining a full-scale military operation against Hamas.

The tension between the allies is heightening following criticism by Joe Biden on Israel’s military response to the fight raising issues of humanitarian concerns. He is pushing them to better protect Palestinian civilians.

While criticizing the Israeli leader in a recent interview, Biden pointed that Netanyahu’s actions were “hurting Israel more than helping Israel” and that he should “pay more attention to the innocent lives being lost” in Gaza.

The US president, however, reiterated that he would never desert Israel but was quick to caution that there are “red lines” that Israel should not cross in its conflict with Gaza.

But in a counter-attack, Netanyahu said Biden’s comment was wrong insisting that stopping another terror assault like to the Hamas raid on October 7 is his top priority.

In an interview with politico, he maintained that he didn’t know “exactly what the president meant, if Biden was saying he was contravening the wishes or interests of Israel, he was wrong on both counts.”

Meanwhile, Biden spoke with his Israeli counterpart for the first time in more than a month. The development coincides with an increase in calls for a truce, given that half of the population in the small coastal strip suffers from “catastrophic” hunger.

Also, in a statement to commemorate the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, Biden said that the Israel-Gaza highlighted the “ugly resurgence of Islamophobia” since it begun.

Biden acknowledged the violence and hatred Muslims face due to their religious beliefs, stating that Islamophobia is unacceptable in the US. He also admitted to the false accusations and harassment Muslims often faced in America.

But Council on American-Islamic Relations dismissed Biden’s comment while urging for a change in U.S. policy instead.

The group also accused the White House of contributing to the conflict by neglecting ceasefire calls in Gaza and supporting Israel unconditionally. They argued that condemning violence against Palestinian Muslim children in America is insufficient.

Observers are on the lookout whether Biden will push for a cease fire or not to secure a second-time win.