Invading Rafah is the last step Israel must take to finish its war with Hamas, according to House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX).
McCaul appeared on ABC News’ “This Week” on Sunday to discuss Israel’s ongoing war with Hamas and the recent threat by President Joe Biden to withhold U.S. military aid for Israel if it launches a full-scale ground operation in Rafah.
“Now, of course, you want the conditions with humanitarian to be in place. Of course, you want the tenants in place, but to say you cannot invade Rafah … we’re telling the Israelis, dictating their military strategy,” McCaul said, according to The Hill. “This is a last point and a last step in the completion of their military objective.”
“For us to step in and say, ‘No, you can’t go into Rafah and finish a job …’ I think it’s tantamount to an arms embargo,” he added.
In an interview with CNN last week, Biden announced that he would freeze military aid to Israel if it moved forward with plans to invade Rafah, the last stronghold of Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
“I made it clear that if they go into Rafah – they haven’t gone in Rafah yet – if they go into Rafah, I’m not supplying the weapons that have been used historically to deal with Rafah, to deal with the cities – that deal with that problem,” Biden said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu put out a video statement after Biden’s statement suggesting that Israel would move forward with its plans to destroy what is left of Hamas’ military strength in Gaza.
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“If Israel needs to stand alone, it will stand alone,” Netanyahu said in a statement.
McCaul said he expects Israel to follow through on its long-anticipated plans to invade Rafah and end the war with Hamas. He added that while Biden’s comments may not impact the direction of the war, they will have an effect on how the U.S. is perceived by its allies in the future.
“With respect to Israel, Netanyahu said — and I’ve talked to him — ‘I’m going to do this alone if I have to,’” the House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman said. “Where it matters, is the signal and the message we’re sending the rest of the world that you can’t count on the United States, can’t trust the United States. Our allies … and our enemies see this as well.”
