Strategic Loyalty: America’s Commitment To Israel

The United States’ unwavering support for Israel, particularly in the context of ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflicts, has raised significant questions about geopolitics, domestic politics, and human rights. Despite mounting evidence of human rights violations and allegations of atrocities committed by Israel against Palestinians, the U.S. has remained a vocal ally of the Israeli government. This article delves into the complex reasons behind this enduring support, highlighting historical alliances, strategic interests, political lobbying, and the disregard for international human rights concerns.

Strategic Interest in the Middle East

The U.S.-Israel alliance dates back to 1948, the year Israel was founded. Israel provides the U.S. with a foothold in the Middle East, offering access to intelligence, military cooperation, and technological innovations, particularly in defense systems like the Iron Dome, which intercepts missiles and rockets. This partnership is seen as especially important in countering threats in the broader Middle East, notably from Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Over time, these allegations regarding Iran’s nuclear program have been frequently cited by both the U.S. and Israel to justify military interventions and attacks in various parts of the Middle East.

U.S. Military Aid to Israel

One of the most significant manifestations of U.S. support is the massive military aid package provided to Israel. The U.S. commitment to Israel’s security is evident through substantial military aid packages. In September 2024, the U.S. secured an $8.7 billion aid package for Israel, which included $3.5 billion for wartime procurement and $5.2 billion for air defense systems like Iron Dome and David’s Sling. U.S. financial assistance to Israel has allowed Israel to maintain a technologically advanced military, capable of responding to security threats and conducting operations in Gaza and the West Bank.

However, critics argue that this support enables Israel’s military actions, resulting in tens of thousands of Palestinian civilian deaths—including children, medical personnel, and journalists. The United Nations and human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (HRW) accuse Israel of extermination, deliberate starvation, crimes against humanity amounting to genocide. Additional allegations include the disproportionate use of force, infliction of great bodily and mental harm, unsafe evacuation practices, and the misuse of so-called “safe zones.”

”Our damning findings must serve as a wake-up call to the international community: this is genocide.”
Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International

The Influence Of Political Lobbying

The political pressure exerted by these groups makes it difficult for U.S. politicians to speak out against Israel’s human rights record without risking political consequences. The influence of such lobbying groups has led to a lack of accountability, particularly at the United Nations, where the U.S. has vetoed multiple resolutions condemning Israeli actions, especially in Gaza.

Another major factor contributing to the U.S. support for Israel is the significant influence of pro-Israel lobbying groups like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). These groups have played a key role in shaping U.S. policy by mobilizing political donations, grassroots efforts, and influencing legislative actions. AIPAC, for example, has historically ensured that both Republican and Democratic parties maintain a pro-Israel stance in Congress.

The Framing Of Security And Terrorism

The U.S. government has consistently adopted Israel’s narrative that Palestinians, especially Hamas pose an existential security threat. The counterterrorism narrative has been used to justify Israeli military operations, even when they result in high civilian casualties.

Israel’s airstrikes on Gaza, often justified as targeting Hamas militants, have resulted in significant Palestinian civilian casualties, including children, doctors, journalists, and other non-combatants. While Israel defends its actions as necessary to protect its citizens from rocket attacks launched by Hamas, human rights organizations such as UN, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have consistently criticized Israel for its disproportionate use of force and its indiscriminate bombing. These bombings have destroyed vital civilian infrastructure, including United Nations facilities, schools, hospitals, and civilian shelters.

International Law And The U.S. Role

Despite evidence of Israeli violations of international law—including war crimes under the Geneva Conventions, such as targeting civilian infrastructure and indiscriminate bombing of residential areas—the U.S. has continued to block international efforts to hold Israel accountable. In 2014, for example, the U.S. vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution that would have condemned Israel for its actions during the Gaza war. Similarly, in 2023, the U.S. vetoed a UN resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, despite mounting civilian casualties.

The U.S. has justified its vetoes by asserting that such resolutions are biased against Israel and do not sufficiently address Hamas’ rocket attacks on Israeli cities. However, critics argue that the U.S. has consistently failed to hold Israel accountable for the disproportionate harm inflicted on Palestinian civilians.

As civilian suffering intensifies and international calls for accountability grow louder, critics question whether the United States’ role remains that of a strategic ally—or whether it risks being seen as complicit in enabling potential violations of international law.

Public Opinion And Media Representation

The U.S. media often portrays Israel as the victim in the conflict, with Palestinians, and especially Hamas, presented as the perpetrators of violence. As a result, this narrative has significantly influenced American public opinion, fostering a sense of justification for Israel’s policies and military actions. Media outlets, by highlighting Israel’s right to self-defense while downplaying the impact of its military actions on Palestinian civilians, contribute to a one-sided perspective that aligns with the interests of pro-Israel lobbying groups and the U.S. government’s strategic alliance with Israel.

In this environment, support for Israel’s policies, even in the face of mounting evidence of human rights violations and civilian casualties, is often framed as a necessary stance for national security and regional stability. This framing helps solidify the perception of Israel as the victim, making it more challenging for public discourse to address the underlying causes of the conflict or acknowledge the plight of Palestinian civilians caught in the crossfire by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Conclusion

The U.S. support for Israel, despite Human Rights Watch’s 2024 reports of human rights violations and allegations of genocide, can be attributed to a combination of factors, including longstanding strategic alliances, geopolitical interests, political lobbying, and media narratives. However, this unwavering support has come at a significant moral cost, with Palestinian civilians suffering the most from Israel’s military actions and enduring systematic human rights abuses, as highlighted by Amnesty International, HRW, and the United Nations in 2024.

As global attention increasingly turns toward Palestinian rights, questions about U.S. responsibility for enabling Israeli actions will only grow more pressing. However, allegations of genocide and widespread civilian casualties have led to a dramatic shift in global media coverage and public opinion regarding Israel. Graphic images, videos, and firsthand testimonies shared on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and X have bypassed traditional media filters, exposing a broader audience to the scale of Palestinian suffering.