Democracy Dies in Darkness

Biden administration straddles its own ‘red line’ on Rafah invasion

The administration continues to describe Israel’s military action as “limited,” but it acknowledges civilian suffering is worsening.

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May 23, 2024 at 8:07 p.m. EDT
President Biden speaks about pro-Palestinian student protests at U.S. universities amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas on May 2. (Nathan Howard/Reuters)
10 min

Nearly two weeks into an Israeli offensive in Rafah, an invasion that President Biden warned months ago could be a “red line” for continued U.S. support of its war in Gaza, the administration says that line has not yet been crossed.

“If they go into Rafah, I’m not supplying the weapons ... to deal with that problem,” Biden said in an interview with CNN earlier this month, three days after Israel Defense Forces began operations on the outskirts of the city. He noted that he had already paused a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs that Israel had used to devastating effect in other urban areas.