The White House is pushing back on reports that it is offering sensitive intelligence to Israel on the whereabouts of Hamas leaders in exchange for Prime Minister Netanyahu declining a full-scale invasion of Rafah. President Biden has warned against an invasion, threatening to halt munitions shipments. The administration is offering intel on Hamas tunnels and hideouts if Israel pulls back, as stated by four sources. The National Security Council spokesperson confirmed that the U.S. continues to help the IDF target Hamas leadership.
Former Trump National Security Council official Victoria Coates believes that intelligence sharing with Israel is crucial for their security partnership. She expressed concern that if the administration is withholding information on Hamas leadership, it could jeopardize the relationship between the two countries. Coates suggests that the Biden administration may be playing political games rather than focusing on the survival of the Jewish State. She also highlights the influence of the youth vote on Biden’s decision-making, suggesting that he may be pandering to the pro-Palestinian sentiment among young Americans.
Ric Grenell, who previously served as Trump’s intel chief and ambassador to Germany, criticized Biden’s behavior as potentially impeachable. He accused Biden of using U.S. intelligence as leverage for political gain, rather than prioritizing the release of American hostages held by Hamas. Fox News host Guy Benson described the situation as surreal, questioning the administration’s tactics in dealing with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Post report also mentioned that Biden and senior aides offered to assist in constructing food delivery systems and shelters for Palestinians evacuated from Rafah.
The White House is urging Israel to conduct targeted strikes within Rafah instead of a full-scale invasion, hoping that providing more granular intelligence assistance could dissuade them from major offensives. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated in an interview that the U.S. government shares the same objective as Israel, which is ensuring that Hamas cannot govern Gaza again. The administration’s efforts to sway Israel’s military tactics in Gaza have sparked controversy and criticism from various figures. Overall, the situation reflects the complex dynamics of U.S.-Israel relations and the challenges of navigating the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
