US military families beg Biden to 'hold ground' on Rafah
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Joe Biden is being urged by military families to stand firm in his belief regarding "Israel's" invasion of Rafah and subsequently averting harm befalling US troops in the region.
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President Joe Biden speaks on May 2, 2024, in Wilmington North Carolina. (AP)
Although the US does not have "boots on the ground" in Gaza, the safety and well-being of US troops are still directly impacted by the Rafah invasion, according to a letter by Sarah Streyder that was republished in Responsible Statecraft.
A spouse of a military member, Streyder is the executive director of the Secure Families Initiative, and, in the letter, she begs Joe Biden to "hold your ground regarding Rafah and demand an end to Israel’s current offensive there."
She recalls how Biden previously called the invasion of Rafah a "red line", citing the relief she and other US military families felt at the time. In addition, she points to the catastrophic repercussions of such an attack, which several human rights organizations have emphasized.
Biden is told that it is now time to "stand firm" in his beliefs as the occupation persists in its aggression against the Gaza Strip for the 220th consecutive day, committing massacres against civilians and escalating its deadly operations in Rafah.
Streyder notes that she "shudders" when thinking about what will come.
Although she notes that military families supported "Israel's" initial onslaught on Gaza, she reports that in recent months, many have grown "appalled" by Benjamin Netanyahu's conduct in the war, which has killed over 35,000 Palestinians and began a spiral of retaliation across the region.
The letter presses Biden to exert some "meaningful consequences" to the occupation for further crossing the "red line" proposed by Biden and calls into question the possibility that US troops will now be in greater danger in the region.
In addition, Biden is questioned regarding how US troops can be expected to "defend allies" when such allies are "credibly accused of human rights abuses by international humanitarian organizations?"
Streyder remarks that "history threatens to repeat itself now" as it did following the September 11, 2001, attacks, which led to disastrous foreign policy mistakes from the US, and concludes by urging Biden to remain truthful to his condemnation of a Rafah attack and call for a ceasefire.
Israeli troops parents urge 'Israel' to halt 'death trap' Rafah attack
The parents of over 900 Israeli occupation troops stationed in Gaza have signed a statement urging the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) to halt the attack in Rafah, calling it a "deadly trap" for their children.
The letter, addressed to Yoav Gallant and the IOF chief of staff Herzi Halevi, claims that "anyone with common sense" could see it was evident that months of warning meant forces on "the other side" were actively preparing to attack their children.
“Our sons are physically and mentally exhausted,” the letter details, citing that this is "nothing short of recklessness.”
One mother expressed to The Guardian grave concern since, according to her, “Rafah is a death trap." She also expressed that Hamas "swiftly regains control" over the areas where IOF withdraw, adding that in the first months of the war, "we backed the whole operation. There was no other choice but to fight and get rid of Hamas in Gaza. But in the last months, we understand there is no clear plan.”
Another mother expressed that she was "terrified" when her son revealed he was on his way to Rafah, citing that entering Rafah "does not justify" eliminating Hamas.
Halevi: 'Israel paying a heavy price' in war on Gaza
Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi reiterated his responsibility for the Israeli military's failures that resulted in the events of October 7 during the formal "Remembrance Day" ceremony at the Western Wall.
“As the commander of the Israel Defense Forces in the war, I bear responsibility for the fact that the IDF failed in its mission to protect the citizens of the State of Israel on October 7,” he said.
Halevi added, “I am the commander that sent your sons and daughters to the battle from which they did not return and to the places from where they were kidnapped."
He also said he was responsible for answering the hard questions, acknowledging that "Israel" is paying a heavy price in its ongoing war on Gaza.
This comes shortly after Senior Israeli "National Security Council" official Brigadier General Yoram Hamo resigned from his position on Sunday.
Hamo, who led the Division for Strategic "Defense" Policy and was said to be overseeing "Israel's Gaza day-after strategy," reportedly stepped down due to a lack of decision-making by the political leadership on the matter.
