In an effort to prevent a full-scale invasion of Rafah, Gaza's last city untouched by the conflict, the Biden administration has paused weapons shipments to Israel, citing safety concerns.
The Biden administration has halted arms shipments to Israel in an attempt to prevent a full-scale invasion of Rafah, the last city in Gaza that has not yet been affected by the ongoing conflict.
According to a report by the Washington Post, the U.S. government is offering Israel sensitive intelligence and supplies in exchange for a scaled-back invasion of Rafah, which has been the site of intense fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas militants.
The intelligence being offered by the U.S. would reportedly allow Israel to more precisely target Hamas leaders hidden in tunnels around the city, potentially minimizing civilian casualties. Additionally, the U.S. has proposed providing thousands of shelters for building tent cities and assisting with the delivery of food, medicine, and water for any refugees fleeing the city.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to invade Rafah with "extreme force," but the U.S. is urging Israel to consider an evacuation plan for the city's residents before launching any military operations. The destruction of Rafah's complex tunnel system could put thousands of civilians at risk, prompting the U.S. to press for an alternative approach.
"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 been collaborating with Egypt to cut off tunnels between Gaza and the neighboring country, which Hamas has been using to replenish its supplies.
An assessment by the Biden administration suggests that Hamas may welcome a prolonged conflict in Rafah, hoping to further isolate Israel from the international community, which has grown increasingly critical of Israel's tactics in the war.
Although it is unknown whether Israel has heeded the U.S. warnings, private discussions between officials have reportedly elicited assurances from Israel that it would not launch a full-scale invasion of Rafah before evacuating approximately 800,000 civilians. The U.N. reported that roughly 300,00 people had already evacuated Rafah in the preceding week.
A U.S. official emphasized that the U.S. is not withholding information on Hamas leaders' locations, stating that the U.S. has been assisting Israel in targeting them.
The temporary halt in weapons shipments is a reflection of the Biden administration's desire to balance support for Israel as a longtime U.S. ally with domestic pressure to address concerns about civilian casualties in the conflict.
