A senior US official has told Politico that the Biden administration is concerned Hamas' rocket attack over the weekend has led Israel to accelerate plans for a potential military operation in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza.
"The rocket attack confirms their fear, you still have this pocket there that gone unchecked or left alone will continue to foment violence or pose a threat," the US official said. "The attack combined with the lack of progress in the hostage negotiations, they are inclined to begin pressing."
Tensions are high after Hamas militants fired rockets from near the Rafah crossing on Sunday, killing four Israeli soldiers. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) struck targets in Rafah overnight and on Monday ordered some civilians to evacuate, signaling potential military action.
The moves reflect Israel may be speeding up an invasion timeline for Rafah, though US officials stressed any operation is limited in scope for now. The US was caught off guard by Israel's evacuation order for 100,000 Rafah residents, the official said, prompting an urgent call between President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu.
The developments present a challenge for Biden, who has urged Israel against a full Rafah invasion without a civilian protection plan. The US continues pushing for a hostage deal with Hamas as "the best way to preserve lives and avoid an invasion where over a million people are sheltering," according to the White House.
However, the US official indicated to Politico that Israel sees military action as necessary after the rocket attack and stalled negotiations with the militants.
