Liam Conner
Washington – Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday that the US “will not support” an Israeli military operation in the southern city of Rafah without a “credible plan to protect civilians.”
“From day one, President Biden has been determined to support Israel in its defense and in trying to ensure that October 7th never happens again,” Blinken said on “Face the Nation” on Sunday. “At the same time, he made it very clear that in doing so, it is imperative that Israel protect civilians and ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches those who need it.”
The comments come as Israel prepares to expand its military operation in Rafah in recent days despite international criticism, ordering new evacuations for civilians in the densely populated area on Saturday. Meanwhile, continued US support for Israel has been called into question.
President Biden said on CNN last week that the US had paused a shipment of bombs into Israel, warning that “civilians were killed as a result of these bombs” as a major operation in the southern city of Rafah, considered the last refuge in the Gaza Strip, appeared imminent. Blinken clarified on Sunday that the only thing the government held back were large payload bombs, given the impact they could have on highly populated areas.
CBS News
The president, who has already been criticized by the left for his continued support for Israel, has faced intense resistance to this move from the right, accused by some of not fulfilling his commitment to Israel. But Blinken defended the president on Sunday, saying “no president has done more to defend Israel when it really matters than Joe Biden.” But he added that the administration has been “very clear for many months about our concerns about a major military operation in Rafah.”
“What we have been clear about is that if Israel launches this major military operation in Rafah, then there are certain systems that we will not support and provide for that operation,” Blinken said.
The secretary also made clear that the US has sought to develop a plan for what will happen after the conflict in Gaza ends. He noted that Hamas is returning to parts of Gaza that Israel vacated. And even if Israel has initial success in Rafah, Blinken noted that it may not be sustainable.
Comments come after Blinken delivered a report to Congress on Friday about Israeli military operations in Gaza, which said it is “reasonable to assess” that Israel has violated international humanitarian law. But the report stopped short of formally concluding that the Israeli military had already done so.
The long-awaited report noted that while there are allegations that Israel violated international humanitarian law, there is “no complete information” on whether U.S. weapons were used.
“We are looking at the totality of what happened,” Blinken said on Sunday. “We think it is reasonable to assess, based on what happened, that there were acts that were inconsistent with Israel’s obligations under international law, but we do not draw definitive conclusions.”
The Biden administration has faced criticism from both the left and right since the report’s release, as some Republicans have condemned its criticism of Israel while some Democrats have argued that the report does not go far enough.
Appearing on “Face the Nation” on Sunday, Sen. Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican and vocal critic of the Biden administration, said the report “doesn’t make any sense,” adding that it sounds like “full-mouthed politics.” .”
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat who also appeared on “Face the Nation,” said that while he appreciated the administration’s assessment, the report “dodged the tough questions.”
