Thursday, November 2, 10:00 AM EDT
With Israel having expanded its punishing assault on Gaza, the war sparked by Hamas’ shocking Oct. 7 terrorist attacks, which killed 1,400 Israelis, has dramatically escalated. The death toll among Palestinians has risen to more than 8,300 and Gaza’s infrastructure lies in ruins. Early U.S. diplomatic efforts to limit the conflict, deter other malign actors from entering the war, and address the quickly deteriorating humanitarian situation must now shift toward facilitating a rapid end to hostilities, laying the foundation for an eventual sustainable political settlement, and preparing for potential post-conflict scenarios, all while evacuating Americans trapped on the ground, helping free hostages, redoubling relief efforts to aid the embattled Palestinian civilian population, continuing to support Israel, and reassuring other nervous allies in the region.
How can the U.S. accomplish these at times contradictory objectives, and what further diplomatic steps are needed to promote regional stability while defending America’s strategic national interests? What might the “day after” look like for Gaza, and what will that mean for Palestinians, Israelis, and the wider region?
To answer these critical questions and more, MEI has assembled a panel of policy experts and former U.S. diplomats with experience in the region.
Speakers
Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley
President, Middle East Policy Council; Non-Resident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council; former U.S. Ambassador to Malta; former Director for the Office of Egypt and the Levant, U.S. Department of State
Gerald M. Feierstein
Distinguished Sr. Fellow on U.S. Diplomacy and Director, Arabian Peninsula Affairs, Middle East Institute
Brian Katulis
Vice President of Policy, Middle East Institute
Randa Slim
Senior Fellow and Director, Conflict Resolution and Track II Dialogues Program, Middle East Institute
Paul Salem, moderator
President and CEO, Middle East Institute