Biden Administration's Intervention in Gaza Conflict: Negotiating Balance Between Support and Concerns

The Biden administration has engaged in intense negotiations with Israel to avoid a full-scale invasion of Rafah, the last major city in Gaza. The U.S. has provided intelligence and offered shelters and humanitarian supplies to support Israel's targeted strikes while voicing concerns about the potential devastation of a large-scale invasion.

The Biden administration has temporarily halted a weapons shipment to Israel amidst growing concerns about the potential humanitarian crisis in Rafah, the last major city in Gaza that has been spared the brunt of the Israeli military's offensive campaign.

In a bid to prevent a full-scale invasion of Rafah, the U.S. has been in tense talks with Israel, offering sensitive intelligence and supplies in exchange for a scaled-back operation. According to a report by the Washington Post, the intelligence provided would enable Israel to pinpoint Hamas leaders hiding in tunnels around the city, allowing for a more precise campaign with reduced civilian casualties.

The U.S. has also pledged to provide thousands of shelters to establish tent cities and assist with the delivery of essential supplies such as food, medicine, and water to accommodate the thousands of refugees expected to flee Rafah if it is invaded.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to invade Rafah with "extreme force," a scenario that the U.S. is keen to avoid. President Biden is navigating a delicate balance between supporting Israel, a longtime ally, and addressing domestic pressure to draw a red line regarding the Israeli military's conduct in the conflict.

Rafah, the last city in Gaza yet to experience major devastation, is home to a complex network of tunnels that Hamas has allegedly used to replenish its supplies. Israel argues that an invasion is necessary to eliminate these pockets of resistance, but the U.S. fears that destroying the tunnels could endanger thousands of civilians.

"We have serious concerns about how Israel has prosecuted this campaign, and that could all come to a head in Rafah," a senior administration official told the Washington Post.

The U.S. has also collaborated with Egypt to locate and disrupt tunnels between Gaza and Egypt, a key supply route for Hamas. According to administration officials, an assessment by the Biden administration suggests that Hamas may welcome an extended conflict in Rafah, hoping to further isolate Israel from the international community.

Despite their concerns, the U.S. has emphasized that it is not withholding intelligence on the locations of Hamas leaders, and that it has been assisting Israel in targeting them.

The private discussions between U.S. and Israeli officials have reportedly led to assurances from Israel that its forces would not launch a full-scale invasion of Rafah without evacuating approximately 800,000 civilians from the city. The U.N. reported that roughly 300,000 people had evacuated Rafah in the previous week.

The Biden administration's intervention highlights its efforts to balance its support for Israel with concerns about the humanitarian impact of the conflict. The hope is to prevent a potential invasion of Rafah and the associated civilian casualties while maintaining Israel's ability to target Hamas leaders and prevent further escalation of the conflict.