White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Sunday that President Biden's threat to not give Israel offensive weapons doesn't mean the U.S. is planning to abandon Israel.
Sullivan, talking to ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos, cautioned about a high number of civilian casualties in Rafah if Israel launches a full-scale invasion.
Sullivan explained that a full-scale invasion in Rafah would cause significant civilian casualties and that Hamas fighters would not engage in organized combat, posing a challenge to pinpointing them.
Sullivan added that Biden is focused on preventing American weapons from being used in an operation that he believes would cause serious harm, emphasizing that it doesn't mean abandoning Israel or cutting off their supply of weapons.
Biden's warning about Rafah is being criticized by some Republicans and Israeli leaders who argue that entering the city is necessary to eliminate Hamas forces there.
The White House has been advising Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to avoid a full-scale incursion while the city is sheltering over a million civilians for weeks.