Tough Call for Biden

The ongoing university protests and widespread boycotts against brands complicit in the Gaza genocide suggest that President Biden's recent decision to halt arms shipments to Israel may not be sufficient to win over his core base, particularly younger voters who seek a clearer stance. Biden stated in an interview that continued Israeli offensives in Rafah, the last refuge for displaced Palestinians, would lead the US to cease weapon support. However, the initial pro-Israel stance taken by Biden at the onset of the conflict contrasts with the current discontent among Democratic voters over ongoing US support for the Gaza war. Pausing arms shipments as a negotiation tactic to prevent Israeli advancement towards Rafah falls short of appeasing these voters, especially women, younger individuals, and Black voters who oppose genocide and feel let down by both parties. Meanwhile, the GOP views this as an opportunity to criticize Biden for appearing soft on the Gaza situation. Biden finds himself in a precarious position where he's damned if he acts and damned if he doesn't.