Israeli Ambassador Herzog criticized the premature disclosure of the U.S. decision to withhold weapons, stating that it sends the wrong message to adversaries and strains U.S.-Israel relations. He emphasized that any operation in Rafah would be contingent on a comprehensive plan for civilian protection. He expressed frustration that the U.S. decision became public while discussions were ongoing regarding Israel’s planned offensive into Rafah.
The U.S. pause on some arms supplies to Israel has raised concerns among Israeli officials, who believe it could send the wrong message to Hamas and other adversaries in the region. President Joe Biden’s warning to Israel regarding weapons withholding if a major offensive is launched in Rafah has deepened the divide between the U.S. and its strongest ally in the Middle East. Despite the delay of some U.S. weapon shipments to Israel, billions of dollars worth of weaponry remains in the pipeline.
Israeli officials have been discussing a potential operation in Rafah with U.S. officials for weeks, emphasizing that any move into the urban area would require a comprehensive plan for civilian protection. The discussions were based on conditions rather than a set timeline, and Israel showed the U.S. its plans for the operation. However, the U.S. decision to withhold some weapons before the discussion was completed was seen as unacceptable by Herzog, who emphasized the importance of addressing the situation in Rafah to achieve Israel’s goal of defeating Hamas.
Following an onslaught by Hamas fighters into Israel, Israel launched its offensive in Gaza, resulting in thousands of Palestinian casualties. Israel’s assault has raised concerns about civilian casualties, with the U.S. expressing doubts about Israel’s plan to protect the estimated 1.4 million Palestinian civilians in Rafah. Herzog acknowledged that defeating Hamas in Gaza requires addressing the situation in Rafah and eliminating the threat posed by the four battalions of Hamas fighters deployed in the area.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has highlighted the challenges of balancing military objectives with civilian protection. The rift between the U.S. and Israel over the withholding of weapons reflects the complexity of navigating strategic decisions in the context of regional conflicts. Both countries are grappling with how to address the threats posed by extremist groups like Hamas while minimizing harm to civilians. The outcome of the discussions between Israeli and U.S. officials regarding the situation in Rafah will have significant implications for the conflict in Gaza and the broader Middle East region.
