US says Israeli airstrikes in Rafah did not cross Biden’s "red line"

The White House stated that the recent deadly airstrikes by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in Rafah did not cross the “red line” that would prompt Washington to reconsider its approach.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby announced that there will be no change in the Biden administration’s policy toward Israel following the military assault by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in Rafah. 

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Kirby said, “As a result of this strike on Sunday, I have no policy changes to speak to. It just happened.”

“The Israelis are going to investigate it. We’re going to be taking great interest in what they find in that investigation. And we’ll see where it goes from there,” he added.

Previously, President Biden had repeatedly cautioned Israel against launching an invasion in Rafah, indicating that the US would not support such attacks. However, his current response has not reflected this stance strongly.

“We’ve also said we don’t want to see a major ground operation in Rafah that would make it hard for the Israelis to go after Hamas without causing extensive damage and potentially a large number of deaths. We have not seen that yet,” John Kirby mentioned.

He underscored the need for Israel to exercise caution during its military operations. 

Kirby maintained that Israel’s actions have not crossed any red lines that would necessitate a stern response from the US

“Should that occur, then it might compel the President to make different decisions regarding support. We haven’t seen that happen at this point,” he said.

"We have not seen them go in with large units, large numbers of troops, in columns and formations in some sort of coordinated maneuver against multiple targets on the ground,” he said.

Israel unleashed a massacre on camps sheltering displaced civilians in Rafah on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of over 45 people, including children who were beheaded and burned alive. 

At least 45 civilians were charred to death, with dozens more wounded. Women and children comprised the majority of the casualties.

Videos from the scene showed harrowing images of destruction, including a person holding the headless, burned body of a child as people searched the burning tents to rescue their loved ones.

Despite the orders of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to cease military operations in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli army stated that the strike targeted two Hamas installations and killed two fighters.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported that the targeted area had been designated as a humanitarian zone and was not included in the locations from which Israel had ordered Palestinians to evacuate.