US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu laid out contradictory “red lines” about the Zionist war in Gaza in recent days that could put them on a collision course if ‘Israel’ invades Rafah in southern Gaza in the next few weeks, three U.S. officials told Axios.
U.S. officials claim an Israeli military operation in Rafah would likely lead to a significant shift in U.S. policy — including an end to the defense of Israel at the United Nations and restrictions on the use of U.S. weapons by Israeli Defense Forces in Gaza.
In an interview on Saturday, Biden was asked whether an Israeli military operation in Rafah was a red line for the administration. “Yes it is,” Biden replied.
A day later, Netanyahu pushed back in an interview. “We’ll go there [to Rafah]. I have a red line,” he said. “You know what the red line is? That October 7 doesn’t happen again. Never happens again.”‘
Biden and Netanyahu haven’t spoken since Feb. 15. In their last call, Biden expressed concern about a possible Israeli operation in Rafah, the White House said.
No decisions have been made about how the U.S. would respond to an Israeli operation in Rafah, but two U.S. officials told Axios that one of the options discussed internally between the White House, the State Department and the Pentagon is to impose restrictions on the use of U.S.-made offensive weapons by the IOF in Gaza.
A third U.S. official told Axios that it is likely that an Israeli operation in Rafah will lead to the U.S. allowing a UN security council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire to pass. The U.S. has vetoed resolutions brought to the security council three times since the beginning of the war.
“If Netanyahu decides to defy Biden and go for such an operation it will be a showdown,” a senior U.S. official told Axios.
Hamas and ‘Israel’ are not close to a deal on a cessation of hostilities in Gaza and releasing hostages, mediator Qatar said on Tuesday, warning the situation remained “very complicated.”
The barbaric aggression against Gaza continued for the 158th day as the occupation aircraft and artillery launched raids and bombardments in various parts of the Gaza Strip. Homes and displaced persons’ gatherings were targeted, leading to a devastating loss of life.
Source: Websites
