The US said it was closely monitoring the probe into a deadly Israeli airstrike on a camp in Rafah. However, the recent deaths in Rafah didn’t constitute a major ground operation that crossed any US red lines.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters that the Israelis had already said this was a “tragic mistake.” He was asked about if the events qualified as the type of “death and destruction” US officials have warned could result in the withholding of more aid to Israel.
Kirby said the US did not have “a measuring stick here or a quota.”
“We’ve also said we don’t want to see a major ground operation in Rafah that would really make it hard for the Israelis to go after Hamas without causing extensive damage and potentially a large number of deaths. We have not seen that yet.”
Kirby said the recent ground operations in Rafah would not prompt a US withdrawal of more military aid.
“I believe that’s what I’ve been saying here.”
Kirby however did say that there was a danger Israel could become further isolated from the international community with its operations. “So this is of concern, clearly, because it’s not in Israel’s best interest.”
“And it’s not in our best interest for Israel to become increasingly isolated on the world stage.”
Recent deaths in Rafah have tested President Biden’s promises to withhold weapons from Israel. The US had earlier stated it would withhold aid if Israel made a major invasion of Rafah that put displaced persons there at risk.
Speaking at a ceremonial event in Washington, US Vice President Kamala Harris spoke about the Israeli airstrike on Sunday. “The word tragic doesn’t even begin to describe it.”
The strike triggered a fire in a tent camp in the Gaza city of Rafah, killing 45 Palestinians.
Gaza health authorities also described an Israeli tank shelling a tent camp in an evacuation area west of Rafah. This killed at least 21 people on Tuesday.
With inputs from Reuters
