The Biden administration affirmed that Israel has deployed sufficient troops near Rafah in Gaza to initiate a full-scale incursion soon.
However, it remains uncertain if Israel has definitively decided to proceed with this action, which would be in opposition to President Joe Biden’s directives, according to two senior U.S. administration officials speaking to CNN.
Additionally, one official expressed concerns that Israel is far from ready in terms of necessary preparations for evacuating over a million Gazans living in Rafah, including the lack of adequate food, hygiene, and shelter infrastructure.
President Biden has recently emphasized the U.S.’s stance by stating in an interview with CNN’s Erin Burnett that the U.S. would restrict certain military supplies to Israel if it were to launch such an operation.
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan reiterated this, noting that the operation has not yet occurred.
As the conflict reaches its eighth month, U.S. officials are increasingly scrutinizing Israel’s strategy, openly doubting its effectiveness in achieving its goal to dismantle Hamas and its leadership.
State Department’s Kurt Campbell highlighted ongoing disagreements over the objectives of the conflict, indicating a shift towards seeking a political resolution.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken also voiced concerns, suggesting that an aggressive move into Rafah could lead to severe repercussions, potentially leaving behind either a power vacuum or a situation conducive to chaos, which might allow Hamas to regain control.
