BEIRUT - The Israeli occupation entity cannot breathe without American oxygen and is effectively bound by the supreme American interests.

If there is a primary difference between the two entities the former will submit to the dictates of its imperial master. It is enough for one to consider the extent of the Israeli occupation entity’s dependence on America for military ammunition. 2 months into the war America had already supplied 10,000 tons of military equipment and approved more than 100 arms sales to the Israeli occupation entity. America is leading the battle and the occupation entity is unable to continue waging war without them. 

This begs the question of America’s position on the continuation of the war; the American establishment has expressed interest in ending the military campaign against Gaza that has failed. However, the war continued with Netanyahu receiving the support required to sustain it. If a person other than Netanyahu had been in power, Benny Gantz or opposition chief Yair Lapid for example, then a ceasefire agreement would have likely already been achieved.

The continuation of the war will increase the Israeli occupation entity’s predicament. It will be of strategic harm. Gaza may run out of food, but it has not run out of weapons. Even if the Israeli occupation entity gains control of areas such as Rafah, it will not be able to maintain control over it.

America is not concerned about the continuation of war, as much as it is concerned with facilitating the conditions for the political settlement it seeks to impose, steps which have included the building of a port in Gaza, facilitating the Palestinian Authority’s control over Gaza, and pressuring Saudi Arabia into normalize relations with Israel through a security pact. Therefore, America at this point is not imposing a ceasefire. Facilitating the conditions for a political settlement also includes the objective of weakening the Gaza resistance, which the Israeli occupation entity has failed to achieve thus far.

The strength of the resistance that the Israeli occupation entity cannot overcome implies the Gazan resistance can reach compromises that guarantee their interests, with the American solution to sideline the resistance constituting a political failure. In this case, the West’s need for the Israeli occupation entity will naturally reduce incrementally, within the rule of the continuity of policies with time. The entity will shrink to match its true size that reflects its actual capabilities since it cannot be given a role greater than what it can perform competently.

It can therefore be said that the continuation of the war is an indication of America’s acceptance of this; however, what constitutes a red line for America cannot be transgressed by the Israeli occupation entity. This includes acts that would precipitate expansion of the war fronts; for this reason, it forced the Israeli occupation entity to respond mildly to the Iranian retaliatory strikes. It is also due to a lack of American support for the invasion of Rafah that it has not yet occurred.

From America’s perspective, the goal is to advance a political solution, which requires the Gazan resistance to be under blackmail, therefore America is not seeking a permanent ceasefire. The occupation entity does not want the war to end, since that would culminate in a decisive victory for the resistance. In addition, Netanyahu’s right-wing cabinet rejects America’s political settlement. Another reason to prolong the war is the personal crisis that Netanyahu faces. He knows he will be removed from power and likely convicted.

Whilst the Gazan resistance ideally seeks a permanent ceasefire, it has accepted the latest round of ceasefire proposals, which consists of three stages and gives them several months to re-establish their capabilities. The goal of the Gazan resistance is to escape the American blackmailing strategy; however, the goal of the occupation entity is to delay the ceasefire altogether. From Netanyahu’s perspective, the goal is to destroy Gaza collectively and continue the war.

However, given that America is on board with this ceasefire, it is likely that they will pressure the occupation entity in this direction. America is concerned with this genocide increasing beyond a certain boundary that warrants escalation and further worldwide uprising, particularly in light of the Rafah invasion.