President Joe Biden has once again warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against a full-scale invasion of Rafah, a border city in Gaza that remains the last refuge for many Palestinian civilians after seven months of devastating war. Despite Biden’s clear opposition, Netanyahu has signaled his intentions to proceed with the operation, citing the presence of Hamas terrorists responsible for a recent attack.
The White House has kept mum on the potential consequences if Israel goes ahead with the invasion, but Biden’s National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby emphasized the US president’s stance that such an operation would put innocent civilians at risk and is unacceptable to the United States.
Efforts to broker a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel have been ongoing, with Egypt and Qatar proposing a plan that would see the release of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners by Israel. However, Israel has dismissed the proposal as unacceptable, leading to continued tensions in the region.
The US has reportedly paused a planned shipment of ammunition to Israel, including bombs used in the conflict, raising questions about the future of American military aid to the country. While the White House has not confirmed the report, officials suggest that Biden may consider cutting off offensive weapons to Israel if the situation escalates further.
As diplomatic efforts continue and tensions remain high, the world watches closely to see how the situation in Rafah unfolds and whether a peaceful resolution can be achieved to prevent further humanitarian crisis and civilian casualties in the region.