As Israel attacks Rafah, US offers only words of caution
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On his fifth trip to the region since the Oct 7 Hamas attack on Israel, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (second from left) criticised Israeli military activity in Gaza.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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TEL AVIV – US officials made their most pointed criticism so far of Israel’s strikes in Gaza, amid the high number of civilian casualties, as the country turns the focus of its offensive to Rafah, but there was nothing to suggest the rhetoric from Washington would be backed by action.
On his fifth trip to the region
He said civilian deaths remained too high even after repeated warnings, and suggested specific steps for Israel to follow.
Any “military operation that Israel undertakes needs to put civilians first and foremost... And that is especially true in the case of Rafah” because of the presence of more than one million displaced people, Mr Blinken told a news conference.
When asked if the United States was going to “stand by” as Israeli forces target Rafah, Mr Blinken repeated the US position that Israel’s military operation should put civilians first.
US diplomats have urged Israel to change its tactics in Gaza for months
Washington has not tried steps that would exert greater pressure, such as restricting its US$3.8 billion (S$5.12 billion) in annual military assistance to Israel or changing its support for its long-time ally at the United Nations.
Critics say this provides a sense of impunity for the country.
Dr Aaron David Miller at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace cited factors including politics and US President Joe Biden’s personal support for Israel as reasons the US has not taken such steps.
The Biden administration will continue to “work with the Israelis, talk tough at times, but until you see some concrete evidence that they’re prepared to actually do things... I just don’t see it coming”, said Dr Miller.
More than half of the enclave’s residents are in Rafah, on the Egyptian border in southern Gaza, with many having moved multiple times to escape the conflict.
Israel has been bombing Rafah and residents fear a ground assault.
Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said last week that Israel’s campaign would expand to the city to target militants.
White House spokesman John Kirby on Feb 8 said that any assault on Rafah without due consideration of civilians would be “a disaster”.
Nearly 28,000 people have been killed in the Israeli military campaign in Gaza, according to the enclave’s health officials.
Israel unleashed its war to eradicate Hamas after militants from Gaza attacked southern Israel on Oct 7
“Israelis were dehumanised in the most horrific way on Oct 7... But that cannot be a licence to dehumanise others,” Mr Blinken said.
Israel says it takes steps to avoid civilian casualties and accuses Hamas militants of hiding among civilians, including at school shelters and hospitals, leading to more civilian deaths. Hamas has denied this. REUTERS
