The Impact of Biden’s Gaza Policy: A Detailed Examination

On January 15, 2025, President Joe Biden addressed the nation from the White House, flanked by Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, following the announcement of a ceasefire deal in Gaza. Renowned journalist Akbar Shahid Ahmed, who spent years covering the nuances of U.S. policy through his work at HuffPost and later The Washington Sun, authored a book titled Crossing the Red Line: Biden, His Advisors, and Israel’s War in Gaza. Ahmed’s extensive interviews and research underline a pattern of insularity within the Biden administration’s decision-making process, particularly concerning Gaza.

Ahmed asserts that a small circle of senior officials significantly influenced U.S. policy decisions. He examines the internal deliberations behind support for Israel’s actions in Gaza. The administration’s approach often involved discussions reaching the highest levels before any decisive action was taken. This process, Ahmed argues, missed opportunities to pressure Israel into restraining its military campaign.

Ahmed highlights a pivotal discussion after the 2024 U.S. presidential election, where officials, including Biden, deliberated the possibility of U.S. complicity in war crimes. Insights from Cabinet members, Middle East coordinator Brett McGurk, and then U.S. ambassador to Israel Jack Lew revealed an acknowledgment that Israel’s campaign would continue expanding despite public suggestions to the contrary.

A former State Department official described a prevailing culture of ‘herd impunity,’ where officials avoided clear conclusions on possible Israeli war crimes. This avoidance served as a rationale not to act further. In September 2025, despite Israel’s rejection, an independent U.N. commission of inquiry concluded that Israel committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

The book explores how decisions within the Biden administration contributed to changing standards of warfare, with significant implications for global influence and democratic accountability. The U.S. continues to provide substantial military aid to Israel, exemplified by new defense contracts initiated during the Trump presidency.

Ahmed argues for a deeper understanding of the administration’s private discussions and decisions. He believes there remains much to learn about senior officials’ perceived responsibilities and doubts regarding the consequences of U.S. policy in the Middle East.

In an edited interview with Leila Fadel, Akbar Shahid Ahmed described President Biden’s navigation of red lines, particularly concerning Israel’s treatment of Rafah, described as a ‘red line’ by Biden. Ahmed criticized the administration for supporting Israeli narratives that contradicted Biden’s insistence on moderation.

Fadel raised the question of careerism’s impact, highlighting reluctance among officials to disrupt long-standing connections. Ahmed confirmed these influences, noting Biden’s skepticism about Palestinian reports and the limited contact between U.S. officials and Palestinians.

Considering the broader narrative, Ahmed pointed to enduring employment success among officials involved in these decisions, questioning their accountability. The book emphasizes this accountability and the need for officials to have acted decisively when opportunities to save lives arose.

The discussion included Hamas’s culpability, recognized by human rights organizations for its breaches of international law. However, Ahmed contrasted this by noting that the U.S. arms Israel, shaping the context of Israeli offensives.

Overall, Ahmed’s work challenges readers to reconsider the ramifications of political decisions and hold influential leaders accountable for their roles in shaping foreign policy and its consequences.