Washington: The Biden administration’s intensive public and private campaign to forestall Israel’s assault on Rafah has become its toughest test to date with its Middle East ally. So far the White House has neither achieved a cease-fire between Hamas and Israel nor persuaded Netanyahu to defer the Rafah offensive. The U.S. said it was reviewing the Hamas response while Israel complained the group had introduced new conditions. He added that Israel would go into Rafah to destroy the Hamas battalions there “with or without a deal." “The U.S. will not support the Rafah offensive currently envisioned by Israel," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Monday.

Source: Wall Street Journal May 07, 2024 10:43 UTC