US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken has stated that the Biden administration remains concerned about Israel’s possible use of heavy bombs against civilians in Rafah.
“We have an ongoing conversation with Israel about this and about our concerns about the use of these particular weapons in that particular way in that particular place. And those concerns remain,” Blinken told a House of Representatives hearing.
President Joe Biden’s administration disclosed this month that it had reviewed the delivery of weapons that Israel might use for a major invasion of Rafah and as a result paused a shipment of bombs to Israel.
Israel, a major recipient of US military assistance for decades, is still due to receive billions of dollars of US aid and weaponry.
“The other assistance that we’ve been providing for Israel’s defence continues and will continue because, again, the President is determined that Israel have what it needs to defend itself,” Blinken averred.
Also, Blinken urged for hindrances to Gaza aid delivery to be removed.
He told the hearing that the Rafah crossing in southern Gaza remained closed after Israel’s military seized it on May 7, 2024.
Fighting near the crossing has made providing assistance challenging, but aid could still be getting through, Blinken said, making an apparent reference to the Kerem Shalom crossing near Rafah that has been open.
“So we need to find a way to make sure that the assistance that would go through Rafah can get through safely, but we do strongly urge our Egyptian partners to do everything that they can on their end of things to make sure that assistance is flowing.”
Antony Blinken
According to Egyptian security sources, Egypt opposes Israel’s presence at the Rafah crossing and wants it to withdraw.
On Monday, May 20, 2024, Egypt’s Foreign Minister said that the Israeli military presence and operations put truck drivers in danger, which has led to the cessation of aid crossing the border.
However, Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister, Ron Dermer, disclosed on a morning show that the hold-up was Egypt’s fault.
“Right now, Egypt is withholding 2,000 trucks of humanitarian assistance from going into Gaza because they have a political issue about the Rafah crossing,” Dermer said.
Israeli Operations In Rafah More ‘Targeted And Limited’
Meanwhile, White House National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan stated that Israel appears to be complying with assurances made that its attacks on Rafah would be “more limited”, although Washington will continue to monitor how its army proceeds.
“What we have seen so far in terms of Israel’s military operations in that area has been more targeted and limited and has not involved major military operations in the heart of denser areas,” Sullivan told a briefing.
“We now have to see what unfolds from here,” he added.
Sullivan noted that there is no “mathematical formula” to determine if Israel’s actions are acceptable.
He said, “What we’re going to be looking at is whether there is a lot of death and destruction from this operation, or if it is more precise and proportional.”
However, William Lawrence, a professor of international relations at the American University, noted that the United States has given Israel “carte blanche up till now” and continues to ship light weapons to its military during the ongoing campaign in Gaza.
“From a Palestinian perspective, it’s absolutely clear the US is doing next to nothing to save them from the onslaught of the Israeli forces,” Lawrence said.
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