While it may seem like a lifetime ago, it’s only been about five months since Hamas made its incursion into Israel, killing some 1,200 Israeli civilians and taking dozens of hostages who have since been used as human bargaining chips. Since the hopeful point of a weeklong ceasefire in late November resulted in the release of some Hamas-held hostages, Israel has avenged the terrorist organization’s October 7 invasion by destroying Hamas infrastructure within Gaza. But unlike most military conflicts, in which non-combatants can flee an affected area, no Arab nation will take in the Gazans. Instead, they’ve become human shields for Hamas.

Ever since Israel gained the upper hand in the conflict with its superior firepower, Jew haters and Hamas supporters have been the biggest proponents of yet another ceasefire. Such a ceasefire would bring six weeks’ worth of peace for some of the remaining hostages.

As Zach Kessel of National Review describes it: “A Biden-administration official told reporters on Saturday that the Israeli government had ‘basically accepted’ the terms of a proposal for a six-week cease-fire meant to facilitate the release of elderly and injured hostages, though no specific number has been provided as to how many of the approximately 100 Israelis believed to be in Hamas captivity would be freed. The potential cease-fire is also intended to provide a window for Israel to allow more aid into the Gaza Strip.”

Traditionally, American foreign policy has advocated a two-state solution in which the Jewish state and a Palestinian state exist side by side. However, as we’ve seen in the constant war-and-ceasefire cycle since Hamas took over the Gazan government in 2006, it’s difficult for sworn enemies to coexist — especially when one of them explicitly and repeatedly rejects that idea.

But it’s also led more recently to clashing factions in the Democrat Party, which is really what this story is about. As our Thomas Gallatin observed last month, “Team Biden worries that if Israel is allowed to continue and eventually crushes Hamas, it will hurt Biden’s reelection chances, specifically in Michigan, with its significant Arab-American population.”

That call for a ceasefire from the Democrats’ Hamas wing became louder with reports that the Israeli Defense Forces “reportedly killed dozens of Palestinians” who were waiting in line for aid last week. Speculation was that the IDF attack thwarted the Biden administration’s efforts to secure a ceasefire.

Regardless, Joe Biden read from his cue cards that the U.S. would, in the coming days, “be providing airdrops of additional food and supplies into Ukraine.” He meant Gaza, not Ukraine, but rest assured: He’s a “well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory.”

Malapropisms aside, Biden said this on Friday: “The truth is, aid flowing into Gaza is nowhere nearly enough now. … Innocent lives are on the line and children’s lives are on the line. We should be getting hundreds of trucks in, not just several.”

However, as pointed out by National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby, airlifts are “a tough military mission.” The preference among those concerned was to resume supplying the Ukrainians, er, Gazans by ship and truck.

And in a bid to establish her leadership credentials before the November election, Kamala Harris stepped out of the shadows this past weekend and lined herself up squarely in the ceasefire camp as well, telling a crowd in Selma, Alabama: “People in Gaza are starving, conditions inhumane, and our common humanity compels us to act. Given the immense scale of suffering in Gaza, there must be an immediate ceasefire for at least the next six weeks, which is what is currently on the table. This will get the hostages out and get a significant amount of aid in; this would allow us to build something more enduring to ensure Israel is secure and to respect the rights of Palestinian people.”

“Hamas claims it wants a ceasefire,” added Harris. “Well, there is a deal on the table. And as we have said, Hamas needs to agree to that deal.” Harris also called on Israel to “work to restore basic services and promote order in Gaza, so more water and fuel can reach those in need.” However, that would imply that Israel takes full control there, which a ceasefire would prevent.

In years past, the Democrats could count on the votes of both Jewish and Arab Americans. However, some of the Jewish vote appears to have peeled away toward Donald Trump. Biden, though, has to worry more about his left flank, which is heavily pro-Hamas and prepared to sit this one out — especially if we’re to judge from the results of the recent Michigan primary. There, a significant segment of the Detroit area’s Arab American stronghold voted “uncommitted” to protest Biden’s perceived pro-Israel stance. Michigan is the definition of a “swing state,” having gone narrowly for Trump in 2016 and narrowly for Biden in 2020. No wonder Biden is hell-bent on appeasing this crucial voting bloc.

Going forward, look for more calls for a ceasefire and more aid to Gaza while Hamas is down. It seems like the only chance for a two-state solution, though, is one in which Hamas is removed from the equation. A ceasefire only allows Hamas to hang on longer, using the timeworn strategy of waiting out a change of Israeli leadership to keep the Middle East in turmoil.