WASHINGTON — The Biden administration reiterated its support for Israel, saying the country’s deadly operation that killed at least 45 people in the Gaza Strip over the weekend did not constitute a major ground incursion crossing red lines American.
“The Israelis said this was a tragic mistake,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters at the White House.
Earlier Tuesday, an Israeli military spokesman said it was likely a secondary explosion that sparked a fire that ignited nearby tents, not the initial strike. Around 45 Palestinians died in a fire that ravaged a temporary refugee camp near the town of Rafah in southern Gaza on Sunday.
Israel targeted two Hamas militants in Sunday’s operation, both of whom were killed, according to a military spokesperson for the Middle Eastern country. The attack took place in the Tel Al-Sultan neighborhood, where thousands of Palestinians were taking refuge. More than half of those killed were women, children and the elderly, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry.
Kirby said the administration deplored the loss of life, but did not condemn the actions of the Israeli government.
“This speaks very clearly to the challenge of military airstrikes in densely populated areas of Gaza, including Rafah, due to the risk of civilian casualties,” Kirby said, adding that the Israeli investigation would be important in preventing “such incidents in the future “.
The incident was one of the deadliest since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas almost eight months ago.
Even though the United States is not conducting its own investigation, Kirby pointed out that the Israeli government has conducted such investigations in the past and communicated its findings — and has even held people accountable for these deadly errors.
“Let’s see what the investigation turns up,” he said. “If we had done that, I think we would have wished we had the opportunity to investigate and understand what happened.”
The weekend strike also does not appear to have crossed a “red line” that would prevent the Biden administration from aiding Israel. President Joe Biden has previously indicated he would withhold additional US military aid if the Middle Eastern country carries out a major ground invasion in Rafah.
Kirby stressed that so far, Israel has not launched an all-out incursion into Rafah and has instead sought to neutralize Hamas leaders through targeted strikes.
“It’s different,” Kirby said Tuesday. “The Israelis said they used 37-pound bombs, precision-guided munitions.”
He added: “If that is indeed what they used, it certainly indicates an effort to be discreet, targeted and precise. Now, obviously, this had tragic results, and obviously this needs to be addressed. of an investigation.”
The administration has suspended shipments of some bombs to Israel, fearing they could be used in Rafah.
The Israeli strike comes despite a ruling Friday by the UN’s highest court ordering it to immediately stop its military offensive in Rafah. Israel argued that the court’s decision gave it some leeway for military action.
Contributors: Kim Hjelmgaard and John Bacon, USA TODAY; Reuters
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