Kirby: There are other ways, apart from a major ground op, to go after Hamas in Rafah

White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby reiterates US opposition to a major Israeli ground offensive in Rafah, albeit in terms that are not entirely categorical.

Speaking to Channel 12 news, he says that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told Defense Minister Yoav Gallant yesterday that the US “just can’t support a major ground offensive in Rafah that doesn’t include an achievable, verifiable plan to look after the safety and security of the 1.5 million Gazans that have sought refuge there.”

Kirby elaborates: “Look, we recognize that there’s a need to go after Hamas… Hamas still represents a viable threat and we know that there are Hamas fighters in Rafah.” But, he goes on, “we don’t believe that going in on the ground in Rafah is a good idea in a major way, that there are other ways to get after that threat.”

He says that is why the US was “so looking forward to being able to have an Israeli delegation here this week to talk about some other ways to do that.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday canceled that planned trip, after the US chose not to veto a UN Security Council Resolution demanding a Gaza ceasefire and the release of all hostages, but he is now reportedly ready to reschedule it. Kirby, in the interview, insists the US withholding of its veto did not represent a shift in policy.

Reiterates Kirby: “Again, we believe that a major ground operation in Rafah is a mistake. We believe that there are other ways to go after Hamas in Rafah… to do it in a way that doesn’t put those people, the refugees, in harm’s way.”

Asked about National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir alleging that President Biden prefers to align with Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar rather than Netanyahu, Kirby responds: “I can’t think of anything more offensive or incorrect.”

When Sinwar “decided to… slaughter 1,200 Israelis, from that moment on President Biden has been in full support of the Israeli people and the Israeli state’s right and responsibility to defend itself and its citizens from any further attack,” he says. “And Hamas has made clear that they’d like nothing better than to conduct another slaughter like they did on the 7th of October, and that’s why we’re continuing to support Israel in their self-defense needs.”

“This is deeply personal for President Biden,” says Kirby. “He has said many times you don’t have to be Jewish to be a Zionist. He strongly believes in the State of Israel and the need to protect and defend themselves. But he also strongly believes in the importance of the Israeli nation’s credibility and reputation in the international community. And he wants to make sure that’s preserved too. And a lot of that is tied to not just to what operations are being prosecuted, but how those operations are being prosecuted.”