If Israel invades Rafah, Biden will consider conditioning military aid to Israel: POLITICO

YEREVAN, MARCH 12, ARMENPRESS. US President Joe Biden will consider conditioning military aid to Israel if the country moves forward with a large-scale invasion of Rafah, POLITICO reports citing four U.S. officials with knowledge of internal administration thinking.

Biden’s openness to taking this step reflects the extreme strains in his relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has rejected subtler efforts by the Biden administration to rein in his conduct of the war with Hamas, POLITICO writes.

While Biden has not made any decision on limiting future weapons transfers, officials said that he very well might do so if Israel launches a new operation that further imperils Palestinian civilians.

An Israeli military official, who like others was granted anonymity to detail a sensitive dynamic between the U.S., Israel and their leaders, said a Rafah invasion wasn’t imminent. Civilians still need to be evacuated and forces prepped before going into the city on the Gaza-Egypt border, the official added, confirming an operation couldn’t begin today even if Netanyahu gave the order.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on March 10 he intends to press ahead with an invasion of the city of Rafah on the southern border of the Gaza Strip in defiance of United States President Joe Biden, who has warned such an offensive would be a "red line."

Relief organizations have warnedthat an attack on Rafah on the border with Egypt — now a refuge for about half of Gaza's 2.3 million population — would result in widespread civilian casualties.

More than 31,100 Palestinians have been killed by Israel's assault in Gaza, launched after Hamas attacks in Israel that killed 1,200 people in October.