Liberal Democrats are vocally criticizing President Biden for allegedly backing down on his "red line" warning to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding military actions in Rafah. The criticisms arise as Israeli tanks reportedly reached the center of Rafah and missile strikes resulted in dozens of Palestinian civilian casualties. The progressive wing of the Democratic Party is demanding that Biden follow through on his vow to halt the delivery of certain weapon systems to Israel in response to these military operations, a measure the administration has so far avoided.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, has been particularly vocal, stating, "It absolutely has crossed the red line, perhaps even before this." Jayapal expressed frustration with what she perceives as a reluctance to hold Netanyahu accountable for actions that she believes worsen security and peace prospects for both Israelis and Palestinians. She questions what Biden's true red line is, given that the president's concerns—such as civilian displacement and military strikes in densely populated areas—have already materialized.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) echoed these sentiments, condemning an Israeli strike on a tent camp in Rafah as an "indefensible atrocity" and urging Biden to suspend military aid. "This was done in open defiance of @POTUS’s red line and the International Court of Justice’s call for a ceasefire," Ocasio-Cortez wrote on social media.
Earlier in the month, Biden had stated he would halt the delivery of certain weapons to Israel if Netanyahu sent troops into Rafah, a densely populated city in southern Gaza where Hamas militants are entrenched. Despite this, Israeli forces continued their offensive into Rafah over the weekend, resulting in a deadly strike that killed approximately 45 Palestinians and injured 200 others. Administration officials have expressed concern but maintain that Israel's operations in Rafah do not constitute the "major ground operation" that would violate Biden's red line.
"A major ground operation is, you know, thousands and thousands of troops moving in a maneuvered, concentrated, coordinated way against a variety of targets on the ground," explained John Kirby, the White House national security communications adviser. "We haven’t seen that at this point."
This analysis has been met with strong opposition from progressive Democrats. Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.) described the scenes out of Rafah as "utterly horrific" and a clear crossing of the red line. Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) also called for an end to military aid, stating, "How many children have to die? We’re past the red line."
The controversy over Biden’s response to Israel's actions in Rafah highlights a growing rift within the Democratic Party. While pro-Israel Democrats argue that Hamas's refusal to release hostages justifies Israel's military actions, progressives insist that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza demands a reevaluation of U.S. support for Israel.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) emphasized that Biden's red line was intended to prevent a humanitarian disaster. He called for a clear commitment from Netanyahu regarding future operations before continuing U.S. military support. The situation in Rafah has thus become a flashpoint, raising critical questions about U.S. foreign policy and the balance of power within the Democratic Party.
