US indicates Israeli takeover of Philadelphi Corridor in line with limited op it’s willing to support

White House national security spokesman John Kirby indicates Israel’s recently announced capture of the Philadelphi Corridor along Gaza’s border with Egypt does not cross the Biden administration’s red line regarding a major military offensive in Rafah.

“When [Israel] briefed us on their plans for Rafah, it did include moving along that corridor and out of the city proper to put pressure on Hamas in the city,” Kirby tells reporters in a briefing.

He declines to confirm if Israel has indeed seized all of the Philadelphi Corridor, saying, “It’s not our op.”

However, he says the move is consistent with the “limited” ground operation that Israeli officials briefed the US on ahead of time.

US President Joe Biden warned earlier this month that he would halt certain offensive weapons shipments to Israel if the IDF launched a major military offensive in populated parts of Gaza’s southernmost city.