Rafah may be 'sea-change moment' for Democrats with 'Israel': Axios
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One House Democrat expresses profound disappointment" at Benjamin Netanyahu's forsaking of the Israeli captives with the aim of extending the war.
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Displaced Palestinians pack their belongings following an evacuation order by the Israeli occupation, in Rafah, on May 6. (AFP)
Democrats in US Congress are upset as "Israel" marches on Rafah, the southern Gaza city, following months of efforts by them and President Biden to avert such an operation, Axios reported.
A full-scale invasion might be a watershed moment for Democrats on "Israel" and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, whose relationship has been increasingly tense.
One House Democrat told Axios that the invasion would "further erode Democrat support," while another cited "profound disappointment" at Benjamin Netanyahu's forsaking of the Israeli captives with the aim of extending the war.
The Israeli war cabinet approved the invasion of Rafah "in order to apply military pressure on Hamas, with the goal of making progress on freeing the hostages and the other war aims," Netanyahu's office announced in a statement yesterday.
An Israeli official relayed to NBC News that "Israel's" invasion into Rafah will be “a very limited” operation meant to achieve tactical military goals against the Palestinian Resistance and pressure it into ceasefire negotiations on "Israel's" terms.
The unnamed official added that this does not indicate the launch of a large-scale ground offensive into the area, something Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has been threatening to do for months.
Democrats and Biden, fearful of further alienating the Arab and Muslim vote, have long expressed concern that an attack on the city would result in a humanitarian disaster for the over million Palestinians taking refuge there with Democratic legislators urging Biden to restrict weapon exports to "Israel".
House Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Jim Himes (D-Conn.) told Axios the attack may steer the ceasefire talks in "the wrong direction," adding that the IOF ought to have targeted those responsible for October 7, implying they were instead collectively punishing Palestinians.
Other House Democrats told Axios that the attack may be the tipping point for Biden's conditioning of arms exports to the occupation citing that the invasion "has the potential of making our case for us."
Citing two Israeli officials, Axios reported that the Biden administration held up a shipment of US-made ammunition meant to be transferred to "Israel" – marking a first since October 7.
It is worth mentioning that back in February, Biden asked "Israel" to guarantee that its forces were using American-manufactured weapons in Gaza in conformity with international law, and the occupation signed a letter guaranteeing that in March despite not taking any action.
Capturing Rafah to 'pressure' Resistance
Israeli occupation forces occupied the Rafah crossing with Egypt from the Palestinian side during their invasion of the city.
Sources told Axios that Israelis believe that capturing the Rafah crossing will pressure the Resistance, Hamas, by putting the occupation in direct control of the aid entering densely-populated southern Gaza.
Earlier, Hamas' Media Office said the movement informed mediators that it has agreed to a proposed prisoner exchange and ceasefire deal with the Israeli occupation.
The United States said Monday it was reviewing a response from Hamas to a ceasefire proposal as President Joe Biden's administration renewed calls on "Israel" not to invade Rafah.
