Qatar has been shown the cost of getting too friendly with the USA, by the Israeli attacks on its soil, in which Hamas leaders were targeted. Qatar is home to the US 7th Fleet, which is the naval component of the US Central Command, but more importantly, was one of the places, along with Egyptian capital Cairo, which was hosting the Israel-Hamas dialogue aimed at achieving a ceasefire in the conflict that has raged there since 7 October 2023. The USA was placing pressure on Israel to accept a ceasefire, which Israel proved unwilling to do; so unwilling that it tried to kill Hamas leaders who were discussing US President Donald Trump’s proposal, and moved the USA to say that the attack ‘did not advance the USA’s or Israel’s goals.’ However, the USA refrained from condemning the attack.
That contrasts with the rest of the rest of the world, which resounded with condemnation of the attack. However, that condemnation, though loud, was like the condemnation of the genocide in Gaza so far: toothless. The Netanyahu government was particularly anxious to avoid a ceasefire, because it is poised to begin an attack on Gaza City, in an attempt to wipe out Hamas. International pressure is building not because of the impending Israeli attack, but because of the famine-like conditions in the Gaza Strip. So far, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, 393 people have died of starvation, in a total of 64,522 people killed. The Israelis seem to be trying to clear Gaza by killing all the Palestinians in it, while the USA would like to see all Palestinians shifted out.
The world does not seem ready to stop a tragedy of immense proportions, when Israel invades Gaza, because Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu is doing his best to avoid an end to the war. He faces elections a year from now at the latest, and cannot face the electorate without showing something. His problem is that his corruption is becoming so evident, and the war has become such a drain on the Israeli economy, that he is likelier than not to face a resounding defeat. Thus the peace of the region, the fate of an entire people, is being held hostage to the political future of one man, because of the absolute backing he enjoys from the USA. Netanyahu seems to have developed a taste for bombing as soon as diplomacy seems to go against his wishes. It should not be forgotten that he attacked Iran when a prospect of diplomacy working there appeared, and managed to get the USA to join in.
