ALBAWABA - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently said in an interview that he takes a flexible approach to Israel's activities, especially when it comes to the current crisis in Rafah. He reiterated President Biden's resolute attitude on the subject and stressed the Biden administration's opposition to a major Israeli attack in Rafah.
Blinken highlighted concerns about the potentially disastrous effects of an attack on Rafah, which is home to a sizable civilian population of Palestinians, emphasizing the need for Israel to have a solid strategy before moving forward with such measures.
While acknowledging the significant assistance the Biden administration has provided to Israel since October 7, Blinken made a suggestion that weaponry assistance may be withheld in the event that Israel occupies Rafah.
In response to questions regarding red lines, Blinken stressed a more nuanced stance and mentioned continuing diplomatic contacts with Israel to discuss relevant matters, mainly pertaining to Rafah.
Blinken highlighted situations in which Israel's conduct may not have been up to par with international humanitarian law, raising questions about compliance and highlighting the necessity for ongoing analyses of different occurrences.
Blinken also raised concerns about the proper use of force, emphasizing the need for Israel to have realistic plans to protect civilians and deal with post-conflict situations in Gaza, which he believes Israel has not sufficiently addressed.
President Biden's previous remarks, which threatened to cut off weaponry supply to Israel in the event that there was a major attack in Rafah, have come under fire from Israeli and US Republican political circles.
