RAFAH IS A RED LINE
March 26, 2024In an new interview with ABC News, Vice President Kamala Harris suggested there could be “consequences” for Israel if it moves ahead with a planned invasion of Rafah in its pursuit of Hamas fighters.
The city, on Gaza’s southern border with Egypt, is thought to currently have some 1.4 million people in it, mostly children.
According to the U.N., many Palestinians fled there from elsewhere in the territory amid the ongoing war, after Israeli military officials told then to leave the north for their own safety.
“We have been clear in multiple conversations and in every way that any major military operation in Rafah would be a huge mistake,” Harris told ABC News’ Senior Congressional Correspondent Rachel Scott in part of the interview that aired Sunday on “This Week.”
“Let me tell you something: I have studied the maps. There’s nowhere for those folks to go,” Harris said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier this month he’d approved a plan to invade Rafah, an announcement that prompted President Joe Biden to relay what the White House called “deep concerns” about the safety of the many civilians sheltering in the city.
Scott pressed the vice president, asking if America would consider “consequences” if Netanyahu went forward — something he said he was willing to do despite the opposition.
“Well, we’re going to take it one step at a time, but we’ve been very clear in terms of our perspective on whether or not that should happen,” Harris said.
Scott followed up: “Are you ruling out that there would be consequences from the United States?”
“I am ruling out nothing,” Harris replied.
@aljazeeraenglish
If you advocate for TRUTH & JUSTICE, SHARE to spread the knowledge.
#FreeGaza #PalestineSolidarity #GazaGenocide #UNRWA #EndGenocide #Palestine #ICJJustice #ceasefirenow #FreePalestine #Interfaith #StandWithUs #Truth #Palestine #Gaza #Humanrights #Israel #فلسطين #اسرائیل #غزة #airdropaidforgaza #middleeast #egypt #truth #facts
English Script:
Al Jazeera Anchor: Well, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to kill Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. He compared this mission to the death of a biblical character called Haman, who was an enemy of the Jews. He said We are fighting and will be victorious. We will enter Rafah and achieve total victory. We eliminated Haman and we will also eliminate Sinwar. US Vice President Kamala Harris is refusing to rule out consequences for Israel if it pushes ahead with a ground invasion of Rafah. She made the comments during an interview on the ABC News show this week.
Rachel Scott:Do you believe that Netanyahu is an obstacle to peace?
Kamala Harris: I believe that we have got to continue to enforce what we know to be and should be the priorities in terms of what is happening in Gaza. We’ve been very clear that far too many innocent Palestinians have been killed. We have been very clear that Israel and the Israeli people and Palestinians are entitled to an equal amount of security and dignity. And frankly, we have been very focused on also getting the hostages out and getting aid in.
Rachel Scott:Netanyahu appears to just be flat out ignoring President Biden’s warning about an offensive in Rafah. Is that a red line for your administration?
Kamala Harris: We have been clear in multiple conversations and in every way that any major or military operation in Rafah would be a huge mistake. Let me tell you something, I have studied the maps. There’s nowhere for those folks to go. And we’re looking at about a million and a half people in Rafah who are there because they were told to go there, most of them. And so we’ve been very clear that it would be a mistake to move into Rafah with any type of military operation.
Rachel Scott: A mistake, but would there be consequences if he does move forward?
Kamala Harris: Well, we’re going to take it one step at a time. But we’ve been very clear in terms of our perspective on whether or not that should happen.
Rachel Scott: Are you ruling out that there would be consequences from the United States?
Kamala Harris: I am ruling out nothing.
