The US has reached an agreement with Hamas to return the last surviving American citizen held by Hamas in Gaza, Aidan Alexander. Israel has watched as a silent spectator.
US President Donald Trump’s ongoing Middle East tour, ignoring Israel and making a series of surprising announcements, has raised concerns in Israeli political circles.
The country’s right-wing government has maintained a virtual diplomatic silence throughout the week.
During this trip, Trump has focused on huge trade deals with wealthy Gulf states, including Qatar, leaving Israel out of the picture, which has raised questions about Israel’s long-standing alliance and strategic importance. In particular, Israel has always criticized Qatar for supporting Hamas.
Israel had been concerned even before the visit about the US-Iran talks on the nuclear deal and the US decision to stop airstrikes against the Houthis in Yemen. Because the Houthi group is backed by Iran and has recently launched several missile attacks on Israel.
Then came a new setback when the US reached an agreement with Hamas to return the last surviving American citizen, Aidan Alexander, who was being held by Hamas in Gaza. Israel watched as a silent spectator.
In the next stage, Trump announced the lifting of sanctions on Syria and called for normalization of relations with the new government in Damascus – a government that Israel considers to be close to jihadists.
Even as Trump was in Riyadh claiming credit for the ceasefire agreement with the Houthis, missile warning sirens sounded in various parts of Israel, including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
However, Trump claimed that the visit would also be positive for Israel. He said that the relations I have with these countries in the Middle East are good for Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not yet made any direct comments, only thanking Trump for the release of Aidan Alexander.
However, a widespread public opinion is developing in the country that Israel, especially under international pressure in the context of the Gaza war, is now being left out of the new diplomatic reality in the Middle East.
Israel Hayom analyst Yov Limor wrote, “A new reality is being created in the Middle East through one agreement and one meeting, and Israel is only a spectator.”
In the light of the situation, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu seems to be facing internal pressure and international changes. Hardliners in his government are pressuring him to continue the Gaza war, and the general public is fed up with war fatigue.
Meanwhile, President Trump is focused on new trade and diplomatic agreements in the Middle East, where Israel is not receiving the priority it once did. Trump is unhappy with Netanyahu’s tough stance on the Gaza war and Iran.
Although Israel is participating in ceasefire talks in Doha, in reality the attacks on Gaza have intensified. Netanyahu says the operation will continue until Hamas is eliminated.
Israeli officials have been reluctant to comment publicly on the US position, insisting on direct talks. Analysts say Israel is losing its traditional influence in the new equation in the Middle East.
