The Inevitable End of America's Hellish Politics

These days, as the United States grapples with one of the worst natural disasters in its history, President-elect Donald Trump, set to assume office on January 20, has made it clear he intends to prioritize domestic issues. While his rhetoric has sparked mixed expectations about his Middle East policies, particularly concerning Gaza and Syria, his recent remarks on Gaza suggest little hope for a shift in the costly, trouble-prone stance the U.S. has taken on Israel. His statement, "I want the prisoner exchange deal on my desk before January 20, or I’ll turn the Middle East into hell," is a warning to Netanyahu to act quickly. However, the true target of his threats remains Gaza, Palestine, and the broader Middle East.

Israel, with the United States' unconditional support, has been trying to turn Gaza into hell since October 7. While this means immense suffering for the people of Gaza, they perceive even the worst atrocities not as hell itself but as a grueling path to martyrdom and paradise. In contrast, the forces against them display a tyrannical arrogance, obsessed with inflicting hellish conditions. Like ancient pharaohs, they aim to prove dominion over death and hell itself, having killed nearly 60,000 people so far, including civilians, women, children, doctors, journalists, and aid workers.

This unrelenting aggression mirrors a wrath attributed in their religious texts to God, now enacted upon Gaza. The people of Gaza, deemed enemies, are subjected to punishment driven by arrogance, rage, and cruelty. Israel’s open, unapologetic actions since October 7 epitomize the ambition to create hell on Earth, an act of divine hubris.

Meanwhile, as Trump issues his threats about unleashing hell in the Middle East, some of the wealthiest and most prosperous parts of the U.S. are experiencing a fiery hell of their own. The devastating fires in California, considered one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history, are not viewed merely as natural phenomena. Instead, they unfold against the backdrop of the genocide in Gaza, highlighting the stark contrast between America’s indifference toward the suffering abroad and its own mounting crises. Hollywood, known for creating cinematic portrayals of distant hells, now finds itself facing a real inferno.

The fires have already caused an estimated $150 billion in damages, with countless personal fortunes reduced to ashes. As the American public confronts this destruction, they may begin to question why their tax dollars, which could have gone toward disaster preparedness, are instead funneled into unending support for Israel’s genocidal actions in Gaza. The $30 billion allocated annually to Israel stands in sharp contrast to the lack of resources available to mitigate domestic disasters.

Trump’s political stance, which has often criticized the misuse of American resources on unnecessary foreign interventions, may resonate with these frustrations. His pragmatism, particularly concerning Syria, reflects an awareness of the financial and strategic costs associated with America’s overseas entanglements. The U.S. reliance on YPG terrorists for countering Daesh, for example, has proven costly and inefficient. Supporting the YPG has resulted in exorbitant expenses without clear returns, a far cry from the famed American pragmatism. Trump’s approach could open the door to alternatives, such as addressing the issue of Daesh prisoners through a unified Syrian administration or cooperation with Türkiye, which would eliminate the need for the YPG’s presence in Syria.

In Türkiye, the new process initiated by Devlet Bahçeli’s call offers an honorable opportunity to reevaluate and address these issues. This moment could represent the last chance for a meaningful, pragmatic shift in U.S. foreign policy.