Every American president aspires to leave a lasting legacy. Some do so, hoping that history will treat them better than the American public or political elite did during their tenure. Others seek to deflect attention from a scandal. Having gone through the contentious years of the Trump regime, Ex President Joe Biden does not want history to repeat itself by failing to restore America as a global leader. To Biden, he had supported the allies of America, stood against the autocrats, and pursued a moral foreign policy. Biden should also be credited with the fact that NATO is stronger today in Europe, especially when it comes to helping Ukraine in its war against the aggression of Russia.
Veteran US leader Joe Biden met his Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu one year ago in Tel Aviv to pledge the unwavering commitment of his administration to Israel in the wake of the Oct. 7 attack performed by Hamas. Biden tried to support Netanyahu because he was confident that only positive incentives and continuous promises (diplomatic and military) could prevent Israeli activities in Gaza. However, in practice, this “bear hug” diplomacy has been an utter disaster. Throughout his presidency, Ex President Joe Biden has shown a strong commitment to Israel, especially throughout the continuing war with Hamas. In the first year of the war, his administration gave Israel a record-breaking $17.9 billion in military aid, and it plans to sell an additional $8 billion worth of weapons, including medium-range air-to-air missiles, to strengthen Israel’s defense capabilities.
Biden’s military support for Israel
In October 2023 to October 2024, more than 17.9 billion dollars of the military aid supplied by the Biden administration went to Israel, yet this is not a surprising figure since the battle was serious and needed to be tackled urgently. The aid provided Israel with the capabilities of sustaining long-term military campaigns against Hamas that entailed a wide range of weaponry consisting of bombs, artillery shells, missiles, and military vehicles.
The administration has equally told Congress that it will be selling Israel a weapon worth 8 billion dollars in the early part of 2025. This package includes precision-guided missiles, 500-pound bombs, medium-range air-to-air missiles, and other state-of-the-art weapons to enhance Israeli protection functions. Doubtless, it is necessary to have the approval of Congress to make this arms transfer, but it indicates that Biden does not intend to push military support under the rug once the battle is over.
The United States’ commitment to preserving Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge (QME), which assures Israel’s military dominance in the region, has also been on the agenda of the Biden administration. This involves equipping Israel with such advanced, sophisticated systems as F-35 stealth jets, Iron Dome missile defense systems, and rapid strategic stock replenishment.
Political rhetoric and diplomatic engagement
In recent talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials, Biden has reaffirmed the same democracies that uphold the US-Israel relationship and has made an ironclad pledge to the security of Israel.
Biden has supported Israel in military aspects but has also attempted diplomatic action, such as facilitating truces and easing aid to be delivered to Gaza. In January 2025, the administration held a ceasefire agreement after negotiations on a ceasefire and hostage exchange with the help of regional allies such as Egypt and Qatar.
Nevertheless, despite such efforts, Biden has received criticism due to his lack of pressure on Israel to cease military activity that has resulted in the deaths of many civilians. The administration has not stooped to the extent of conditioning military aid to changes in Israeli policy, yet it has cajoled Israel into doing less harm to civilians and opening humanitarian corridors.
Political dynamics and domestic criticism
Progressives and human rights activists have criticized Biden as being too ready to endorse the warmongering of Israel that has led to many civilian casualties and humanitarian disasters in Gaza. Such a lobby group as AIPAC is pro-Israel and plays a considerable role in shaping US policy, as has been argued by such political leaders as Senator Bernie Sanders, which evinces the tendency to limit the readiness of the administration to blame Israel.
A bill that would help the US military aid Israel contingent on its policies in the West Bank and Gaza is becoming likelier in Congress. Most of the Democrats are demanding greater control and responsibility to ensure aid does not further aid in infringement of human rights, although the connection between Republicans and Israel remains strong and unconditional.
Balancing support and calls for peace
Biden made it clear that the US would stay committed to the security interests of Israel when he publicly encouraged Israel to seek Hamas leaders long after the war ended in July 2024. He has emphasized the importance of destroying the military forces of Hamas, as well as portrayed the war as a war on terror. On the same note, Biden has indicated the urgent need for ceasefire agreements and additional humanitarian aid to Gaza. He added that diplomatic work by the administration had helped halt the fight abruptly in January 2025 and urged the Israeli Prime Minister, Netanyahu, to agree to an immediate ceasefire and free the hostages.
The contradictory position by the administration, which on the one hand supports Israel’s right to self-defense but on the other hand tries to mitigate the human toll and reach a political settlement, can be seen in the words of Biden. Also, the fact that Biden supports Israel means a lot to US-Middle Eastern and international relations. With Biden, the US-Israeli relationship still forms an important part of regional geopolitics. The support of Israel is associated with efforts to combat the nuclear ambitions of Iran and its attempts to turn it into an influential state.
In addition to managing complicated ties with Arab nations that hold differing opinions on the Israeli-Palestinian problem, Biden has collaborated with Israel and other regional allies to keep pressure on Iran.
Critics argue that the longstanding support America has been offering Israel over the Gaza War has tainted America as a crusader of human rights and international law. The feeling of bias has crippled US diplomacy in the region and decreased the moral authority of the country in the global community. Moreover, regarding the ongoing Israeli-Hamas confrontation, the efforts of Ex President Joe Biden in supporting Israel are undeterred and have never been so extensive. He has enhanced the strategic relationship that existed between the two countries by providing such unprecedented military aid, state-of-the-art weapons, and other forms of diplomatic assistance since he formed his government
In a nutshell, such assistance is controversial and difficult, however. The way the conflict is approached by the administration of Biden has faced severe domestic and international criticism, especially when taking into consideration the humanitarian angle and demands of accountability. The necessity to find a balance between the alleviation of the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the enhancement of Israeli security is one of the major problems of the foreign policy legacy left by Biden. Even to this day, the region remains unstable, and the attitude that Biden has taken toward Israel will remain a prime subject in American foreign policy and will shape the coming Middle Eastern relations and American involvement in the international world.
