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.
Israel ordered new evacuations in the southern city over the weekend.
Biden has been increasingly critical of Israel's military campaign and has been urging Netanyahu and other leaders to be more careful in preventing civilian deaths.
More than 35,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza since the conflict started in early October, when Hamas forces launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing about 1,200 people.
Jake Sullivan stated that no one has been a stronger supporter of Israel than Joe Biden, emphasizing the amount of support the U.S. has provided, and that the president is committed to ensuring Israel's defense needs are met.
Sullivan explained the president's concerns about a full-scale military invasion of Rafah, highlighting the large number of civilians taking shelter there.
In an interview with NBC News's “Meet the Press” on Sunday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. has not seen credible plans from Israel on preventing civilian deaths in Rafah.
Blinken also expressed concerns about the future after the Gaza war, stating that even if Israel takes heavy action in Rafah, there will still be thousands of armed Hamas members remaining.
