American officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, have issued strong warnings against an Israeli invasion of Rafah, citing concerns about civilian casualties, a potential Hamas insurgency, and a power vacuum that could be filled by the terror group. These warnings come after President Joe Biden threatened to pause certain weapons transfers if Israel were to invade Rafah. Blinken and Sullivan emphasized that the decision was made in order to prevent American weapons from being used in what they believe would be a bloody and ill-advised operation.
Despite concerns about civilian deaths, Israeli military operations in Gaza have resulted in a high number of casualties, with the Ministry of Health reporting that over 35,000 people have been killed as a result. The US is urging Israel to do more to mitigate civilian deaths and abide by international law in its campaign against Hamas. However, there have been challenges in making a full determination on Israel’s adherence to international law due to the ongoing war.
While Israel has resisted American advice for developing a plan for Gaza post-war, the US is working with Arab countries and others to create security, governance, and rebuilding plans. The goal is to ensure that Hamas cannot govern Gaza again once the conflict is over. However, tensions remain between the US and Israel over the use of American weapons and concerns about the impact of a potential ground invasion of Rafah.
Blinken and Sullivan have both emphasized the need to avoid a ground invasion of Rafah, warning of dire consequences such as an armed Hamas insurgency or a power vacuum filled by chaos. Biden’s decision to prevent American weapons from being used in a potential offensive is based on the belief that such an operation would not succeed in defeating Hamas and would cause significant harm. The US stands firm in its commitment to Israel but is focused on preventing further escalation and protecting civilians.
Last week, the State Department released a report indicating that US weapons may have been used by Israeli forces in Gaza in ways that are inconsistent with international humanitarian law. While the report did not officially accuse Israel of violating the law, Blinken stressed that the US does not have double standards and treats Israel as it would any other country. However, making a full determination amid the ongoing conflict has proven challenging.
Despite a tense relationship between Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Blinken downplayed any growing rift between the two leaders. He emphasized that the US is clear-eyed and speaks the truth to Israel, prioritizing American interests while also considering those of Israel. While differences in views may exist, the nature of the relationship between the US and Israel remains strong, even in the midst of the current tensions.
