Ep 21. Gaza

In the season five episode twenty-one of The West Wing titled "Gaza," the staff faces a challenging situation as a peace accord between Israel and Palestine is in jeopardy. The episode opens with Toby (Richard Schiff) and Will (Joshua Malina) discussing a memo that Toby wrote, which outlines a plan for the U.S. to broker a peace deal between Israel and Palestine. Meanwhile, President Bartlet (Martin Sheen) is preoccupied with a military operation in Gaza that has gone awry.

The situation in Gaza turns dire when a group of Palestinian militants fire rockets at an Israeli town, killing several people. Israel responds with an air raid on a crowded market in Gaza, resulting in the death of dozens of Palestinian civilians. The President is outraged by the incident, and he demands that Israel stop its military operations in Gaza immediately.

As the staff scrambles to find a way to salvage the peace accord, tensions rise between Toby and Will, who have differing opinions on the best course of action. Toby believes that the U.S. should use its leverage to pressure Israel into stopping its military operations and negotiating a peace deal. Will, on the other hand, thinks that the U.S. should allow Israel to continue its military operations in Gaza to prevent further attacks.

The situation becomes even more complicated when Josh (Bradley Whitford) meets with a Palestinian diplomat who tells him that the militants who fired rockets at Israel were motivated by a desire to derail the peace accord. Josh realizes that the extremists on both sides of the conflict are actively working to sabotage the peace process.

The President eventually decides that the U.S. should suspend its aid to Israel until it stops its military operations in Gaza and returns to the negotiating table. This decision is not well-received by the Israeli government, and the staff realizes that their actions may have consequences for the U.S.-Israel relationship.

Throughout the episode, the characters struggle with the moral complexities of the conflict in the Middle East. They grapple with the difficult question of how to broker peace between two sides that have been at war for decades. The episode showcases the show's trademark sharp dialogue and nuanced character development, as each member of the staff brings their own perspective and expertise to the table.

In the end, "Gaza" is a thought-provoking episode that examines the challenges of diplomacy and conflict resolution in a complex and volatile region of the world. It showcases The West Wing's ability to tackle weighty political issues with intelligence and sensitivity, and is a must-watch for fans of the show.