White House Stresses Biden's Stance Against Unprotected Military Actions in Rafah

Jake Sullivan, the White House National Security Advisor, emphasized on Tuesday that President Joe Biden is firmly against any Israeli military operations in Rafah that fail to ensure the safety of civilians. This declaration comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is adamant about advancing an offensive into Rafah, a densely populated city on Gaza's southern frontier. The U.S. administration, Sullivan noted, has yet to be presented with a convincing plan for the protection of civilians in such military endeavors.

In a routine press briefing, Sullivan highlighted President Biden's perspective that a peaceful and stable future for the region does not involve the invasion of Rafah, which houses over 1.3 million residents, without a solid and reliable strategy for safeguarding its inhabitants.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu, in a video speech to the AIPAC conference in Washington, reaffirmed Israel's commitment to pressing forward with its military campaign in Rafah. He assured that the operation would be conducted while ensuring measures are in place to protect civilian lives from the conflict.