US Vice President admits “consequences” if Israel invades Rafah

A United States Vice President Kamala Harris suggested that there could be “consequences” for Israel if Benjamin Netanyahu’s government insists on moving forward with a planned military offensive on the Palestinian territory of Rafah. The statements are contained in a long interview given by Kamala Harris to the North American television network ABC News, broadcast this Sunday.

Located on Gaza’s southern border with Egypt, Rafah is currently estimated to have around 1.4 million inhabitants. “Let me tell you something: I studied the maps. There is no place for these people to go,” she told ABC News’ correspondent in the United States Congress.

“We were clear in multiple conversations and, in every sense, any major military operation in Rafah would be a big mistake,” said the vice president of the United States in part of the interview broadcast this Sunday on the program “This Week”.

The journalist insisted and wanted to know whether the United States would consider adopting “consequences” if Netanyahu moved forward – something the Israeli prime minister has already said he is willing to do despite American opposition. “Well, let’s 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,” Kamala Harris responded.

Faced with a new question, the tone of the response is more assertive: “Do you rule out the emergence of consequences from the United States?” “I don’t rule out anything,” replied Joe Biden’s vice president.

Harris’ remarks come hours after Netanyahu reiterated to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that Israel will attack Rafah even without Washington’s support. “There is no way to defeat Hamas without going to Rafah and eliminating the rest of the battalions there,” he said. “I told him [a Blinken] I hope we do it with the support of the United States, but if necessary, we will do it alone”, he added.

After the Hamas attack on Israeli soil on October 7, 2023, which caused around 1,200 deaths and two hundred hostages, Israel is currently carrying out an offensive in Gaza that has caused more than 32,000 deaths, according to the most recent report from the Hamas Ministry of Health.

The Palestinian Islamist group, which has controlled Gaza since 2007, is classified as a terrorist organization by Israel, the United States and the European Union.