Gaza War Has Severely Damaged US-Israel Ties, Former Biden Official Phil Gordon Warns

Phil Gordon, a former senior official in the Joe Biden administration and former national security adviser to then-Vice President Kamala Harris, has warned that the Gaza war has severely damaged the longstanding strategic relationship between the United States and Israel, with the consequences potentially lasting for years.

In an exclusive interview with Israeli newspaper The Jerusalem Post published on Sunday, October 11, Gordon said public support for Israel in the United States had declined significantly. He argued that the shift extends beyond the current political leadership and reflects changing attitudes among younger generations of Americans. 

Support for Conditional Military Aid Is Growing
Gordon said the idea of placing conditions on US military assistance to Israel has moved from the margins of Democratic Party debate into the mainstream.

According to him, criticism of Israeli government policies and support for restrictions on military aid are increasingly visible among Democrats. He also noted that declining support for Israel is not limited to one political party.

Gordon said a future Israeli government pursuing different policies could help improve bilateral relations. However, rebuilding trust would require sustained efforts from both sides.

Netanyahu’s Role in the 2024 Ceasefire Negotiations
During the interview, Gordon discussed negotiations over a Gaza ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages in the summer of 2024.

He recalled that then-President Joe Biden presented a phased ceasefire proposal on May 31, 2024. After weeks without a breakthrough, Hamas indicated in early July that it would accept the framework in principle.

Biden then called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on July 4 to urge him to move forward with an agreement. Gordon said Netanyahu raised additional conditions that complicated the negotiations.

These included maintaining an Israeli military presence along the Philadelphi Corridor, which separates Gaza from Egypt, and introducing screening procedures for Palestinians returning to northern Gaza.

Gordon said some senior Israeli officials, including then-Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, questioned the military necessity of maintaining troops along the corridor.

However, Gordon declined to make a definitive judgment about Netanyahu’s motives, noting that the prime minister maintained that the conditions were important for Israel’s military objectives. He said the political implications of those positions could nevertheless be questioned.

Criticism of Both Biden and Trump Administrations
Gordon also criticised the Biden administration, arguing that Washington could have exerted stronger diplomatic pressure on Israel over the conduct of the war and the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza.

He said the choice was not limited to either continuing military assistance without conditions or imposing a complete arms embargo. Other options, including diplomatic pressure and restrictions on specific weapons, were available.

Gordon also questioned the Trump administration’s response after the January 2025 ceasefire agreement broke down in March. He argued that the United States should have acted more quickly as restrictions on food, water and medicine worsened conditions in Gaza.

While acknowledging the importance of securing a ceasefire and a hostage-release agreement, Gordon said earlier and more sustained efforts were needed to prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian crisis. 

Warning Over the Risk of Escalation With Iran
Gordon also addressed tensions between Washington and Tehran, describing the situation as a volatile and dangerous stalemate.

He said the United States believes economic pressure and restrictions are weakening Iran, while Tehran may believe that domestic political pressures in the United States will make it difficult for Washington to sustain a prolonged confrontation.

Gordon warned that this competing assessment could increase the risk of further escalation across the Middle East.

His broader argument was that the Gaza war has had consequences extending beyond the humanitarian crisis in Palestine. It has also strained US-Israel relations and complicated Washington’s diplomatic position in the region.

Gordon said rebuilding the relationship may still be possible, but warned that the scale of the challenge should not be underestimated.

Source: The Jerusalem Post