Academic Ran Porat reveals why Joe Biden deserves ‘a lot of credit’ for Gaza truce

Gaza should be controlled in the short run by a coalition of ‘the good guys’, writes academic Ran Porat as he praises Joe Biden for his role in the ceasefire deal.

Outgoing US president Joe Biden deserves a lot of credit for the small but crucial details of the hostage release and ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. His people, including William Burns, the outgoing head of the CIA, worked tirelessly and flew many times to the Middle East for that purpose.

TRUMP EFFECT

Yet a deal would not have been possible without the extra leverage former US president Donald Trump brought after he was re-elected in November, 2024. He could put real pressure on the Israeli government to be flexible, because he was carrying a big bag of ‘carrots’ – future steps current Israeli right-wing politicians in government would like to see. This includes softening of resistance to expansion of Israeli sovereignty to parts of the West Bank. The incoming president demanded the deal which was his elections promise. For all Israelis, making Trump ‘happy’ may lead to US with Israeli help, removing the strategic threat of a nuclear Iran in coming months.

CAUSE FOR OPTIMISM

There is reason to be optimistic that the deal would stick and will be implemented completely. All sides stand to lose if it doesn’t. Israelis want to have all the kidnapped back home, dead or alive. With Trump’s backing, Israel has plans to relaunch massive attacks on Hamas if the terror organisation fails to deliver on his commitments. Hamas, and the Palestinians in Gaza, desperately want to start rebuilding their lives and the Gaza Strip. This would take years and billions of dollars.

Young Arab men celebrate the announcement of the Gaza ceasefire in Berlin, Germany. Picture: Getty Images

REGIONAL SECURITY

Removing the hurdle of the conflict in Gaza would open the way for Israel, strongly backed by the new US administration, to continue reshaping the geopolitical map of the Middle East. In Lebanon, they can now focus on stabilising the country without the harmful influence of Iranian-proxy Hezbollah, reduced a much weaker force thanks to Israel’s assaults. Hezbollah dragged Lebanon to an unnecessary war with Israel that left it weak and big parts of Lebanon in ruins. In Syria, Bashar is gone and is replaced with the question mark which is the new Jihadist government in Damascus. It is weak and has no time or resources to deal with the Palestinian issue. Just like in Lebanon, Syria needs years to rebuild itself after successfully getting rid of a dictator and his Iranian friends. The Houthis in Yemen will cease their attacks on Israel and the strategic maritime Red Sea trade route through the Suez Canal.

The big prize may be Tehran. If the Trump administration decides to finally tackle the threat from Iran’s regional ambitions and atomic bomb project – that would a most welcomed and important development.

Palestinians gather to celebrate after the announcement of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage exchange deal. Picture: Getty Images

GAZA’S FUTURE 

Gaza should be controlled in the short run by a coalition of ‘the good guys’. One option maybe that it would be ran and policed Arab countries such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Jordan, with some symbolic status for the Palestinian Authority (only after the latter reform itself from corruption and educating for terror). US and international money should pour in to reconstruct the ruins of buildings and infrastructure in Gaza. Education must be in the hands of those who would teach positive values, not hate and despair.

That is one way Hamas can be removed.

Extremist ideologies thrive in hopelessness and chaos. That must not be the case for Gaza if the world, Australia included, steps to positively create a better place there.

Ran Porat is an Affiliate Research Associate, Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation, at Monash University.