VP Harris doesn’t rule out consequences for Israel if it goes ahead with Rafah op

US Vice President Kamala Harris appears to not rule out consequences for Israel if it moves forward with a major ground offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah where over a million Palestinians are sheltering.

Upon first being pressed on ABC’s “This Week” whether there would be consequences from the US if Israel moves into Rafah, Harris responds, “We’re going to take it one step at a time.”

But after the question was raised a second time, she says, “I am ruling out nothing.”

“We have been clear in multiple conversations and in every way that any major military operation in Rafah would be a huge mistake,” Harris explains.

“I have studied the maps. There’s nowhere for those folks to go. We’re looking at about a million and a half people in Rafah who are there because they were told to go there… so we’ve been very clear that it would be a mistake to move into Rafah with any type of military operation,” the vice president adds.

Commenting on Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s recent speech calling for early elections in Israel to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Harris says, “I will not speak for Senator Schumer, but we are very clear that that is on the Israeli people to make a decision about when they will have an election and who of course they elect to lead their government.”

Earlier this month, US President Joe Biden referred to an Israeli operation in Rafah as a “red line,” when pushed during an MSNBC interview. He subsequently backtracked and the White House has since maintained that such talk “is not stated as a declaration of our policy.”

After reports that the White House might condition aid to Israel, Kamala Harris wouldn’t rule out “consequences” against Israel if it moves forward with the offensive in Rafah. pic.twitter.com/F8Lurckaqj

— Kerry Rom (@kerry_rom) March 24, 2024