US President Joe Biden with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to Israel last October (French)

Washington

- As Israel prepares to launch a ground attack on the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, the White House statement regarding President Joe Biden’s call to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, yesterday, Sunday, indicated that Biden “reaffirmed his opinion that the military operation in Rafah should not be conducted without a reliable plan.” It is workable and guarantees the security and support of more than a million people sheltering there.”

The statement did not contain any reference to Washington’s refusal to storm Rafah, the last area to which about one and a half million Palestinians have taken refuge since the start of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip on October 7th.

On the other hand, Biden's rebuke of Israel in his speech at the White House on Thursday night did not provide any indication that he would reduce US military and diplomatic support for Israel, if it continues on its current path.

Sarah Harrison, an expert at the RAND Corporation and a former official at the US Department of Defense, expressed her doubts about the effectiveness of US pressure.

She said in a tweet on the “X” website, “What fuels my doubts is the administration’s knee-jerk decision to suspend funding for UNRWA, support a $14 billion arms package for Israel, and refuse to condition military aid at a time when the Israeli army is preparing to begin operations in Rafah. And all of that.” "It contradicts the policy objectives claimed in the National Security Memorandum."

Commentators talk about growing frustration in the White House over Netanyahu’s rejection of many American requests (Anatolia)

Public opinion matters to Israel

This week, Netanyahu began his appearance as a guest on ABC News' main talk show yesterday morning, Sunday, and reiterated that "victory is within reach," adding, "We will eliminate what remains of the Hamas terrorist brigades in Rafah, the last stronghold. We will do so." that".

Netanyahu promised to provide "safe passage for the civilian population so they can leave," and when asked where the Palestinians were supposed to go, Netanyahu said they were "working on a detailed plan."

With increasing calls from a number of members of Congress for the need to avoid storming Rafah, which coincides with the United Nations and other relief organizations expressing their concern about where civilians will go with the start of the Israeli storming, Netanyahu responded by saying, “Those who say that we should not, under any circumstances, "The circumstances of entering Rafah, they are telling us to lose the war. Keep Hamas there."

Commentators in Washington point to growing frustration in the White House with Netanyahu and the Israeli government's rejection of many American requests. Earlier this week, Biden described the Israeli military operation in Gaza as crossing borders. This was the harshest language Biden has used to criticize the Israeli aggression in Gaza since October 7, 2023, despite fears of the expected incursion.

Interest in the prisoner deal

President Biden sent CIA Director Bill Burns to Egypt to continue talks on a ceasefire agreement that would also secure the release of an estimated 132 Israeli detainees held by Hamas, including 8 who hold American citizenship.

Burns is expected to meet with the Qatari Prime Minister and the heads of Egyptian and Israeli intelligence, to discuss efforts to reach a new exchange deal that could lead to a long cessation of fighting in Gaza, and the introduction of larger amounts of humanitarian aid to the people of the Strip.

With the increasing fears of some American circles about the consequences of the Rafah storming on the fate of the detainees, regional security, and the future of the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, the Hamas movement confirms that an Israeli ground attack in the city of Rafah will mean the end of the prisoner negotiations.

Regarding what President Biden can do to prevent the aggression against Rafah, Ambassador David Mack, former Assistant Secretary of State for Middle East Affairs and currently an expert at the Atlantic Council, said, “Words, even from Biden himself, will not be enough to stop Israel’s plans to storm Rafah.”

Mack added in an interview with Al Jazeera Net, “Despite Washington’s rejection of the forced displacement of Palestinians, the only thing that will succeed is to set strong conditions for the continued American military, financial, and political support for Israel. It seems that this has begun to happen with the president’s national security memorandum, which was successfully pushed by a number of Leading Democrats in the US Senate, led by Senator Chris Van Hollen.

On the other hand, if Netanyahu goes ahead with the Rafah invasion, this could quickly lead to the loss of American support, because it “jeopardizes the safe release of hostages and prisoners,” according to the former diplomat.

Palestinians gather to receive flour rations for their families outside an UNRWA warehouse in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip (French)

Use support for pressure

In an interview with Al Jazeera Net, the director of the Gulf States Studies Foundation, Giorgio Cafiero, said, “The United States has a very large amount of influence over Israel. Israel was not able to wage its war on Gaza, except because of the high level of support it receives from Washington.”

Kafiro believed that Netanyahu's government "was able to escape punishment for this genocide in Gaza only because of the military, economic, political, and diplomatic support it receives from the American government."

He pointed out, “If the Biden administration were to set conditions on aid to Israel, Tel Aviv would have no choice but to act accordingly and meet Washington’s requirements to continue receiving American support. This may entail telling Israel that aid may be cut or frozen depending on Tel Aviv’s steps.” The following is about what relates to Rafah.

However, due to political factors, “the Biden administration does not condition aid to Israel, or sets any red lines, and ultimately refuses to use Washington’s influence to change what is happening on the ground,” says the American expert.

Ben Rhodes, deputy national security adviser in the administration of former President Barack Obama, also noted, “It is not at all clear whether the change in tone of language from Washington in a phone call will have any impact on Netanyahu’s thinking as long as you support Netanyahu’s military operation in Gaza without... conditions".

Source: Al Jazeera