The direction of the war from hereon will be inextricably tied to Mr Biden’s posture. If Israel launches a full-fledged ground invasion, as it has said it will, that toll is certain to rise sharply. The image of Mr Biden embracing Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, in Tel Aviv amid the bombing of Gaza will stay entrenched in the collective memory of the region. Israel, meanwhile, continues to bomb the only crossing between Gaza and Egypt despite Mr Biden’s assertion that Mr Netanyahu had agreed to allow aid to pass through that border. If the war turns even more deadly in the weeks to come, Mr Biden, in the eyes of many, will have blood on his hands.

Source: The Telegraph October 20, 2023 14:17 UTC