White House officials are scheduled to meet with an Israeli delegation in Washington to discuss details of Israel’s plans to invade the Gaza Strip city of Rafah.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan argued that Israel lacks a “coherent and sustainable strategy” to prevent further civilian deaths in the Gaza operation. The timing of the delegation’s departure has not yet been announced, but it is just another sign of growing friction between President Biden’s administration and the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“A large-scale ground operation would be a mistake, cause more deaths of innocent civilians, exacerbate an already dire humanitarian crisis and threaten the Gaza Strip,” Sullivan told reporters at a White House press briefing. “It would deepen anarchy and further isolate Israel internationally.”
“More importantly, the important goals Israel wants to achieve with Rafah can also be achieved by other means,” he added.
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White House officials are scheduled to meet with an Israeli delegation in Washington to discuss details of Israel’s plans to invade Rafah. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Sullivan went on to describe the conversation between Biden and Netanyahu on Monday.
“The president has repeatedly insisted that continued military operations must be tied to clear strategic end goals,” Sullivan said. “The President reiterated to the Prime Minister today that while we share the goal of defeating Hamas, he believes we need a coherent and sustainable strategy to achieve it.”
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The Israeli delegation’s participation is further evidence of growing friction between President Biden’s administration and the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
The White House has declined to issue specific warnings about what would happen if Israel goes ahead with an invasion of Rafah that does not meet Biden’s standards.
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Biden himself appeared to suggest that he might halt arms deliveries to Israel if there were large numbers of civilian casualties, but the White House mollified that warning on Monday.
Satellite images show tent shelters for displaced people in Rafah, Gaza Strip, on February 7. The White House has declined to offer specific warnings about what could happen if Israel goes ahead with an invasion of Rafah that does not meet Biden’s standards. (Reuters/Maxar Technologies)
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“What the president said today was, ‘Prime Minister, I want you to understand exactly where I stand on this. We need a strategy that works… There’s a better way,'” Sullivan said. .
