After Gaza ceasefire: ‘What’s Biden’s plan? There’s zero plan’

The Israeli attack on Gaza spurred protests in the US, but experts say Joe Biden hopes to put the issue on the back burner.

After 11 days of Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip killed more than 200 Palestinians, injured nearly 2,000, and left the territory in ruins, Joe Biden “commended” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for “the decision to bring the current hostilities to a close”. The United States president has faced unprecedented criticism for failing to demand an immediate ceasefire to end Israel’s devastating bombing campaign, instead putting out what rights advocates described as milquetoast statements reaffirming Washington’s unequivocal support for Israel. But despite that pressure, Biden stayed on message in his first comments since a ceasefire was announced on Thursday, once more emphasising that “the United States fully supports Israel’s right to defend itself against indiscriminate rocket attacks”.