Why is Israel gearing up for a Rafah offensive despite Biden's warnings?

Biden has cautioned Israel against attacking Rafah without a plan to protect civilians

Photo composite of Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden and an aerial map of Rafah
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called Rafah the 'last bastion' of Hamas
(Image credit: Illustration by Stephen Kelly / Shutterstock / Getty)

As the war between Israel and Hamas passes the four-month mark, the former is continuing its major military operations in the Gaza Strip. Israel's latest effort is a planned assault on the southern city of Rafah, but the international community has been pressuring Israeli leadership against going forward with the attack. 

The latest world leader to speak against the plan is President Joe Biden. Speaking at the White House on Monday alongside Jordanian King Abdullah II, Biden said that Israel's operation in Rafah "should not proceed without a credible plan — a credible plan for ensuring the safety and support of more than one million people sheltering there." Biden noted that many of the people in Rafah are refugees who have been "displaced multiple times, fleeing the violence to the north, and now they're packed into Rafah — exposed and vulnerable."

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Justin Klawans, The Week US

 Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other Hollywood news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.