American officials persist in cautioning against the invasion of Rafah, even amidst Israel's continued advancement.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken addresses a press briefing in Washington, DC, on May 10. (Image Source: Kaylee Greenlee Beal/Reuters)

Top American officials issued strong warnings on Sunday against an Israeli incursion into Rafah, emphasizing the potential for extensive civilian casualties in the event of a major ground offensive in the southern Gaza city.

The alerts from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan followed President Joe Biden's recent ultimatum on CNN, stating that an Israeli invasion of Rafah would prompt him to halt certain arms transfers.

Both Blinken and Sullivan asserted that Biden's decision stemmed from a desire to prevent American weaponry from being utilized in what he perceives as a bloody and ill-conceived operation. They also aimed to refute assertions from Republicans and pro-Israel Democrats that Biden was abandoning Israel to fend for itself.

In an interview with CBS, Blinken highlighted the US view that Israel has caused more civilian casualties than Hamas militants in its Gaza campaign, stressing the need for Israel to take further steps to minimize civilian harm.

Despite longstanding American warnings against a ground assault on Rafah, Israel appears determined to press forward, having issued evacuation orders for some of the estimated 1.4 million civilians in the area.

Blinken cautioned against rushing into Rafah, warning of potential dire consequences. On NBC, he expressed concerns that Israel could face an entrenched insurgency or a vacuum filled with chaos if it proceeds recklessly.

Sullivan echoed these sentiments on ABC, cautioning that an Israeli operation would likely result in significant civilian casualties while failing to fully eliminate Hamas, as many militants would likely evade capture due to their terrorist tactics.

Last week, the State Department released a report indicating that US weapons may have been used by Israeli forces in Gaza in ways inconsistent with international humanitarian law. However, the report stopped short of officially accusing Israel of violating the law.

 

Share on Google Plus

About somrat

Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis.