The White House affirmed on Tuesday that President Joe Biden has no immediate plans to alter his Israel policy in response to a deadly strike on Gaza’s Rafah over the weekend. While expressing concern for Palestinian civilians, the administration does not view the Rafah incident as constituting a full-scale breach of President Joe Biden’s stated “red lines” regarding Israeli military actions.
The strike on Sunday, which resulted in a blaze engulfing a displaced persons camp in Rafah, claimed the lives of 45 individuals, according to Gaza health authorities. Despite the severity of the incident, the President Joe Biden administration does not consider it a catalyst for policy change, pending the outcome of Israel’s investigation into the matter.
During a White House briefing, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby reiterated the administration’s stance, emphasizing that they are not ignoring the humanitarian implications of the situation in Rafah. When pressed about potential policy shifts in response to the Rafah strike, John Kirby underscored that President Joe Biden’s position remains unchanged, awaiting further developments and Israeli assessments.
While acknowledging the gravity of the situation, John Kirby highlighted that the administration has not observed indications of a large-scale Israeli military offensive in Rafah, as defined by their assessment criteria. The administration is closely monitoring the situation but has not signaled any immediate shift in policy directives.
Regarding calls from congressional Republicans to impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) following its prosecutor’s actions against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, John Kirby stated that the White House does not support such measures. Despite expressing reservations about the ICC’s jurisdiction, the administration does not view sanctions as an appropriate response.
In a separate development, the Pentagon announced the suspension of aid deliveries into the Gaza Strip by sea due to damage sustained by its temporary pier during inclement weather conditions. This decision underscores the challenges faced in providing humanitarian assistance amid ongoing conflict and logistical constraints.
