Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu characterized the airstrike in Rafah as a ‘tragic mistake.’ The White House stated on May 28 that the recent Israeli strike in Rafah, resulting in the deaths of at least 45 Palestinians, did not cross President Joe Biden’s red line for halting arms shipments to Israel.
“We have no policy changes as a result of this strike on Sunday,” said White House National Council spokesperson John Kirby during a press briefing. “The Israelis will investigate it, and we will closely follow their findings.”
Despite Israeli airstrikes killing 45 people, including civilians sheltering in tents in Rafah, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it a “tragic mistake” and pledged to conduct a thorough investigation.
During a press briefing, reporters questioned Mr. Kirby on why Palestinian casualties did not breach the red line. Mr. Kirby emphasized the importance of the Israeli Defense Forces’ investigation to prevent similar incidents in the future.
President Biden has made it clear that the US will not supply weapons to Israel if it enters population centers in Rafah to clear out Hamas bases. He stated that Israel had not crossed his red line by initiating a large-scale invasion in Rafah.
The Israeli airstrikes followed the International Criminal Court’s order to halt military operations in Rafah. Despite domestic and international pressures, Mr. Netanyahu affirmed his commitment to eliminating Hamas and achieving all goals.
President Biden expressed concerns about potential civilian harm in a large-scale military operation in Rafah, the last sanctuary for nearly 1.4 million displaced Palestinians in Gaza. However, nearly one million Palestinians have evacuated Rafah since the Israeli military operation began on May 6, according to the United Nations.
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