As images circulate of the deadly Israeli strike on civilians, Biden confronts calls to make good on his threat to suspend offensive weapons.
on the conduct of its military campaign in Rafah after an airstrike there over the weekend killed at least 45 Palestinians and injured hundreds more, suggesting the United States would impose no consequences for the Israeli action.
“We still don’t believe that a major ground operation in Rafah is warranted. We still don’t want to see the Israelis, as we say, smash into Rafah with large units over large pieces of territory,” Kirby said. The weekend tragedy, he said, “speaks very clearly to the challenge of military airstrikes in densely populated areas of Gaza, including Rafah, because of the risk of civilian casualties, which of course happened terribly in this case, a horrible loss of life.
Some experts and Democratic lawmakers said Israel’s airstrike — along with reports of Israeli tanks rolling into the center of Rafah on Tuesday — had clearly crossed Biden’s red line and urged the president to respond accordingly. Biden issued several sharp warnings to Israel as it prepared to go into Rafah to demolish what it said were remaining Hamas battalions. During an interview in March, when he was asked whether an invasion of Rafah would be a “red line” with his relationship with Netanyahu, Biden replied that it would but added, “I’m never going to leave Israel.”the weapons — including controversial 2,000-pound bombs — that Israel had used in its military operations in key cities in Gaza.
Days before the deadly airstrike, the International Court of Justice, an arm of the United Nations, urged Israel to immediately halt its operations in Rafah — an order that is unenforceable but is supported by several U.S. allies. The White House’s message on the strike — that it was a tragedy but did not violate Biden’s warnings against a full-scale invasion of Rafah — was echoed elsewhere in the administration.Miller, the State Department spokesman, said the United States was “deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life in Rafah” but that it would not prompt Biden to restrict military support for Israel.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Israel's Rafah strike, ground assault don't cross Biden's 'red line,' White House saysChantal Da Silva reports on world news for NBC News Digital and is based in London.
Read more »
White House assessing if Israel violated 'red line' with Rafah strikeAt least 45 Palestinians were killed, according to health authorities in Hamas-run Gaza.
Read more »
After months of tension over Rafah, White House appears to recalibrate strategy on Israel: ANALYSISThe administration's tactics have yielded little progress toward U.S. goals.
Read more »
Coons, McCaul weigh in on Israel report, possible weapons pauseThe White House has warned against invading Rafah without civilian protections.
Read more »
Tlaib blames House for Israel’s Rafah invasion and calls for ICC to arrest NetanyahuRashida Tlaib said House members 'gave their consent' for Israel to invade Rafah.
Read more »
White House opposes House bill to force Israeli arm shipmentsThe measure would force the U.S. to send bombs that have been delayed over Israel's conduct in Gaza.
Read more »