Unless President Biden secured an agreement from Netanyahu to call off the invasion of Gaza, his high stakes trip to Israel will turn into a diplomatic and political blunder.

Either end the cycle of violence now — and the ball is in Netanyahu’s court — or it could easily spread and engulf more people and states in the Middle East and beyond..

In moments like the one we’re passing through I find it helpful to ask myself: What would King say and do?

Just as the people of Israel shouldn’t be conflated with Netanyahu and his government, the people of Gaza shouldn’t be conflated with Hamas. Without making such a separation, one can end up in strange and reactionary places politically. Haven’t we seen evidence of this analytical failure — plenty of it in fact — and its consequences over the past week or so?

What could be predicted is now happening — an escalating war and the collective punishment of two million people living in Gaza. As horrific as it is, it could get much worse. Much will depend on the internal politics of Israel and the reaction of the international community to this mounting bloodbath. Calls for restraint and a ceasefire should fill capitals around the world.