The White House condemned the deaths of dozens of civilians in an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, but said does not plan changes in its policy as a result of the Israeli actions, the Associated Press reported, quoted by BTA.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters that Israel had not breached the "red line” Biden's request to halt future transfers of offensive weapons as it has not begun, and the US does not believe a full-scale ground invasion of Rafah will begin.
"Everything we can see tells us that they are not moving to a large-scale ground operation in the population centers of Rafah,” Kirby said.
Kirby called the loss of life "heartbreaking” and "terrifying“ and said the US was monitoring the results of an Israeli investigation into the strike, which suggested the civilian deaths were the result of a secondary explosion after a successful strike on two Hamas operatives.
"We understand that this strike did kill two senior Hamas leaders who were directly responsible for the attacks,” Kirby said. "We have also repeatedly said that Israel must take all possible precautions to do more to protect innocent life.“
Asked if the strike would lead to any changes in US policy, Kirby said: "I can't talk about policy changes.”
In a speech at a gala event in Washington, US Vice President Kamala Harris said: "The word "tragic“ not even enough to describe“ the Israeli airstrike on Sunday that caused a fire in a tent camp in the Gaza Strip city of Rafah, killing 45 Palestinians, Reuters reported.
Her words, in response to a reporter's question, followed what Gaza health officials described as Israeli tank fire on a tent camp in an evacuation zone west of Rafah that killed at least 21 people on Tuesday.
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Regarding Israel's war against "Hamas" The White House has said it opposes sanctions against the International Criminal Court over a prosecutor's request to issue arrest warrants for Israeli leaders in connection with the Gaza war.
Secretary of State Anthony Blinken told US senators last week that he is willing to work with Congress on sanctions against the court.
Meanwhile, Algeria circulated a proposal for a UN Security Council resolution that demands an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and orders Israel to immediately halt its military offensive in the southern city of Rafah, the Associated Press reported, quoted by BTA.
The draft resolution, obtained by The Associated Press, also calls for the ceasefire to be respected by all sides. It also calls for the immediate release of all hostages taken during the attack by "Hamas" in southern Israel on October 7.
Some diplomats said they hoped for a quick vote, even as early as Wednesday.
"We hope this happens as quickly as possible because lives hang in the balance,” Chinese Ambassador Fu Cun told reporters.
US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said: "We are waiting to see and then we will react.
The United States has vetoed multiple resolutions demanding a cease-fire in Gaza, AP recalls.
The project requires compliance with previous Security Council resolutions calling for the opening of all border crossings and for humanitarian access to the 2.3 million people in Gaza who are in desperate need of food and other aid.
The proposed resolution states that "the catastrophic situation in the Gaza Strip poses a threat to regional and international peace and security”. It expresses serious concern over the "famine that is spreading in the Gaza Strip” and the suffering of Palestinians who have taken refuge in Rafah.
/PJ/
Source: www.bta.bg