The Biden administration is expressing concern over recent developments in Gaza, specifically an increase in violence following a deadly rocket attack by Hamas over the weekend. This event may have prompted Israel to expedite its military plans in Rafah, according to U.S. officials.
The situation escalated after Hamas militants launched rockets from the Rafah crossing, resulting in the deaths of four Israeli soldiers. Israeli jets responded with airstrikes on targets in Rafah, including a humanitarian aid site that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed was used for staging the attack. Following this, the IDF instructed civilians in a specific area of Rafah to evacuate to a “humanitarian area” in al-Mawasi, a region along the Mediterranean coast.
These developments, coupled with stalled cease-fire negotiations over the weekend, suggest that Israel might be advancing its plan to invade Rafah. Although U.S. officials highlighted that the military operation might be limited in scope, they noted that it doesn’t necessarily signal the start of a broader invasion. A U.S. official commented that Israel’s decision to proceed with military action was influenced by both the recent rocket attack and the slow progress in hostage negotiations. The White House scrambled to understand Israel’s reasoning behind the evacuation order, which took the U.S. administration by surprise.
On Monday, President Joe Biden had a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the situation. The National Security Council confirmed this call, indicating that the White House was urgently seeking more information. Hamas, meanwhile, announced that it had agreed to a hostage deal proposed by Egypt and Qatar, but it remains unclear whether this is a deal supported by Israel and the United States. As a result, a cease-fire may not be imminent.
The unfolding events put President Biden in a challenging position, having previously urged Israel to avoid a full-scale invasion without a comprehensive civilian protection plan. Should Israel continue with its military plans, Biden might be compelled to openly break with Netanyahu, urging him to reconsider a large-scale invasion of Rafah, a densely populated area with about 3,000 Hamas fighters in an extensive tunnel network.
The IDF spokesperson, Maj. Nir Dinar, clarified that the evacuation order targets “a certain part of Rafah” and aims to keep civilians safe. The IDF intends to dismantle Hamas’s infrastructure wherever it is used to attack Israel. However, the evacuation order has caused confusion among civilians, with tens of thousands of people unsure how and when to relocate to the designated humanitarian area.
The Pentagon and the White House have emphasized the need for a comprehensive plan to ensure civilian safety in any military operation. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin communicated this to Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, but it remains unclear whether such a plan is in place. The IDF has begun distributing evacuation notices and sending text messages to civilians and humanitarian organizations, resulting in confusion and uncertainty. Aid workers on the ground have reported looting at the Rafah crossing and other distribution sites, complicating efforts to deliver much-needed aid.
Given the precarious situation, humanitarian organizations warn of catastrophic consequences if the military offensive proceeds without adequate provisions for civilian safety. Aid workers fear that the evacuation could lead to significant humanitarian crises, with severe disruptions to the delivery of food and medical aid.
