The White House has expressed condemnation over the tragic loss of civilian lives resulting from an Israeli airstrike in Rafah. Despite this, there are no immediate plans for policy changes in response to the Israeli actions.
The National Security Council has stated that Israel has not crossed President Biden's 'red line' for halting offensive arms transfers, as there is no indication of a large-scale ground invasion into Rafah.
According to the NSC spokesman, the U.S. believes that Israel is not pursuing a major ground operation in the city's population centers. The recent strike in Rafah, which led to civilian casualties, is under investigation by Israeli authorities. Initial reports suggest that the deaths occurred due to a secondary explosion following the targeting of two Hamas operatives.
While acknowledging the loss of innocent lives as 'heartbreaking' and 'horrific,' the U.S. government emphasized the importance of Israel taking all necessary precautions to minimize civilian casualties. The strike reportedly eliminated two senior Hamas figures responsible for orchestrating attacks.
When questioned about potential changes in U.S. policy in response to the airstrike, the NSC spokesperson indicated that there are no immediate alterations to announce at this time.