U.S. officials fear Israel's invasion could derail cease-fire talks.
Shannon K. CrawfordAs Israel has stepped up its military assault on Rafah, the Biden administration has intensified its efforts to prevent its ally from launching its long-promised major ground invasion into the city in southern Gaza -- a step that would cross a red line set by President Joe Biden and one that officials fear could derail negotiations to secure a cease-fire and free hostages imprisoned in the enclave.
Earlier Wednesday, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller declined to say whether the U.S. had communicated any specific terms for lifting the hold to Israel, but suggested the decision would hinge on what happens next in Rafah. "I turn to Israel's enemies as well as to our best of friends and say - the State of Israel cannot be subdued," he said in remarks released by his office.
Miller explained that humanitarian aid had been stopped at Kerem Shalom due to "logistical and security concerns on the ground" and that fuel necessary for distributing that aid through Gaza had not been allowed to enter through Rafah, sending the level of assistance for the enclave plummeting to what he called an "unacceptable" level as a humanitarian crisis continues to unfold in Gaza.
Hamas has indicated there will be no deal if Israeli forces continue to crack down on Rafah, but the militant group has continued to participate in talks -- sending representatives to Cairo for talks on Tuesday. Despite the false start, the U.S. still believes a deal is within reach. CIA Director Bill Burns, one of the Biden administration's most influential negotiators through the course of the conflict, has been in the Middle East since last week and visited Israel on Wednesday in an effort to push a deal over the finish line, according to sources familiar with the talks.
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