Biden Calls for Protection of Civilians Following Israeli Airstrike on Rafah

The Biden administration, under pressure from several Democrats to halt arms shipments to Israel, called on the Israeli government to take all necessary precautions to protect civilians following a military attack on Rafah that resulted in the deaths of dozens of Palestinians. A spokesperson for the National Security Council stated, "Israel has the right to pursue Hamas, and we know that this attack resulted in the deaths of two senior Hamas terrorists involved in attacks on Israeli civilians." He added, "However, as we have previously stated, Israel must take all possible precautions to protect civilians." Biden is increasingly facing pressure within his party to reduce Washington's support for Israel. This pressure had already escalated before the Israeli airstrike on Sunday evening on a Palestinian refugee camp in Rafah, which led to tent fires and destruction of the camp, resulting in 45 deaths. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a prominent Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives, described the attack on Monday as "an indefensible crime" and wrote on social media that "the President should have stood by his word long ago and suspended military aid." Ayanna Pressley, another member of the House, wrote on social media, "Horrific and heartbreaking images from Rafah were released last night." She added, "How long can the United States tolerate the Israeli army slaughtering and mutilating Palestinian infants?" Rashida Tlaib, the only American-Palestinian in the U.S. Congress, called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "crazy" and accused him of "genocide." Netanyahu stated on Monday that the Israeli army did not intend to cause civilian casualties but "tragically made a mistake." Meanwhile, the White House National Security Council spokesperson emphasized that the United States is in contact with the Israeli army and others to investigate the incident. A recent joint Reuters-Ipsos poll shows that nearly half of those who vote for Democrats are dissatisfied with Biden's policies regarding the Gaza war.