Biden Administration Warns Israel Over Deadly Rafah Strike

The White House has issued a stark warning to Israel regarding its recent airstrike in Rafah, which killed two senior Hamas leaders and dozens of civilians, emphasizing that such actions should not escalate into a major ground operation.

The White House has strongly condemned Israel's airstrike on Rafah, which killed two senior Hamas leaders and dozens of civilians, urging the country to exercise restraint and avoid engaging in a large-scale ground operation.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby addressed reporters on Tuesday, expressing concern over the civilian casualties in Rafah but emphasizing that the strike did not constitute a major ground operation, which would have crossed a "red line" set by President Biden. Kirby explained that the Biden administration expects Israel to conduct its operations with precision to minimize civilian casualties.

Reporters questioned Kirby extensively about the strike, asking whether it violated the president's red line. Kirby maintained that it did not, as the strike was not part of a major ground operation. However, he stressed that the White House is not indifferent to the loss of innocent lives and would continue to monitor the situation closely.

Kirby explained that a major ground operation would involve tens of thousands of troops engaging in coordinated maneuvers against multiple targets on the ground. The Biden administration has not observed such a deployment by Israeli forces at this time.

The White House spokesman acknowledged that airstrikes are inherently risky and can result in civilian casualties. However, he emphasized that the Rafah strike did not meet the threshold of a major ground operation, which would have triggered a reassessment of the U.S.'s support for Israel.

Kirby also noted that the White House had not received any reports of civilian casualties in previous airstrikes in Rafah. He reiterated that the Biden administration expects Israel to exercise caution and precision in its military operations to minimize the risk of civilian harm.

During an interview on MSNBC's "Morning Joe," Democratic Senator John Fetterman expressed sympathy for the victims of the strike but maintained his support for Israel as a key ally. Fetterman emphasized the need to prevent Hamas from operating freely in the region, as it hampers the prospects of a peaceful resolution.

The White House's warning to Israel serves as a reminder of the Biden administration's commitment to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which it believes requires both sides to exercise restraint and refrain from actions that escalate tensions or undermine the possibility of peace.