Two months after its military campaign in Gaza, Israel appears to be fighting a losing battle for international support. The country has lost important votes at the United Nations and even supporting powers such as the United States have expressed dissatisfaction with Israel's warfare. Mint looks at Israel's position. –
Has Israel lost support for its war?
Israel has suffered a number of worrying setbacks in recent weeks. It lost a crucial vote in the UN General Assembly on an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas that has ravaged Gaza. A total of 153 countries, including India, voted in favor of the resolution, while only the US and some small countries voted against. This was followed by US President Joe Biden suggesting that Israel's indiscriminate bombing campaign was causing the country to lose support worldwide. This stark admission was accompanied by Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu publicly stating that there are disagreements between Israel and its largest ally over the future of Gaza.
Is this confirmed by facts?
A slew of polls, including those from Pew Research and Brookings, show that support for Israel in the US has declined after several weeks of a military campaign in Gaza. States such as Germany, which have staunchly supported Israel, have abstained from voting at the UN on the issue and have also called on Israel to do more to enable humanitarian aid to Gaza. India, which had scrupulously maintained a balanced conflict policy, ultimately voted in favor of the UNGA resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire.
What does this mean for the course of the war?
Israel has indicated it will continue the fight to eliminate Hamas regardless of whether it receives international support. Both Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Eli Cohen expressed this sentiment. However, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will travel to Israel this week and is expected to press Israeli officials for a timetable detailing the end of the war. It is unclear whether Israel will be able to withstand US pressure, as the US has remained a stable bench of support for Israel at the United Nations Security Council.
What impact does this have on India?
India had earlier abstained from voting at the UN General Assembly on a ceasefire resolution. This was in sympathy with Israel's demand that a condemnation of Hamas for the October 7 attacks be included in the resolutions. This time, despite the fact that this condemnation was ultimately withheld, India voted in favor of the UNGA resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. Experts suggest this reflects New Delhi's assessment that the winds of international public opinion and public opinion are turning against Israel.