The Biden administration has urged Israel against invading the city, fearing it would bring about unacceptable civilian casualties.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken declined to provide a “red line” that would cause the United States to pull away from backing Israel as President Joe Biden threatens to withdraw some support.
“We don’t talk about red lines when it when it comes to Israel,” Mr. Blinken told Kristen Welker, anchor of NBC’s “Meet the Press,” on May 12.
His comment comes as Israel prepares for a ground invasion of Rafah, a densely populated city along the border with Egypt that has become the last safe haven in Gaza for nearly 1.5 million civilians, many of whom were forced to flee from other areas of the Gaza Strip.
Western leaders—including the Biden administration—have urged Israel to not invade the city, fearing it would prompt unacceptable civilian casualties.
Earlier this week, the Biden administration announced a pause in the shipment of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, and President Biden threatened to further cut U.S. support should Israel proceed with an invasion into population centers of Rafah.
“I made it clear,” President Biden told CNN’s Erin Burnett in Racine, Wisconsin. “If they go into Rafah, I’m not supplying