Israeli Military Enters Rafah in Gaza, US Officials Downplay Knowledge of Operation
US officials have downplayed their knowledge of Israel’s plans for military operations in Rafah, the last haven in Gaza for refugees fleeing the Israeli military siege. The Biden administration has publicly warned against a sustained military assault on Rafah, citing the potential threat to over one million refugees and residents in the area.
Despite these warnings, Israeli tanks entered Rafah early Tuesday morning, with Israeli officials indicating their intention to push ahead with the attack. US officials, however, expressed hope that it was not the beginning of a sustained operation, though they had no statements from Israeli commanders to support this view.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant stated that the operation would continue until Hamas is eliminated in Rafah and the entire Gaza Strip. The US State Department reiterated that they did not believe a full-scale assault was underway, emphasizing that the goal was to dismantle Hamas’s control of the Rafah crossing.
Reports have also surfaced indicating that the end goal of the operation includes putting an American security firm in charge of the Gaza side of the crossing. This move would deepen US involvement in the conflict while freeing the Biden administration from direct responsibility.
As the death toll in Gaza rises and reports from the territory become sparse, a Politico report revealed that a report investigating allegations of Israeli war crimes in Gaza, due to be presented to Congress, is indefinitely delayed. The situation in Rafah remains tense, with uncertainty surrounding the extent of the military operation and its potential implications for the region.