Read previewEarly on Tuesday, Israeli tanks seized control of the vital Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt.
But throughout its eight-month war, Israel has shown that it is willing to reject and ignore the advice of its most important international ally, the US.
Israel on Monday warned civilians in eastern Rafah to evacuate, indicating that an attack may be imminent.
His coalition is fragile, and he relies on the support of far-right lawmakers who are demanding an attack on Rafah.
AdvertisementThe Gaza war has repeatedly threatened to spill into a wider regional conflict, and scenes of new civilian suffering in Rafah could intensify that threat.
Persons:
—, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Matt Duss, Biden, John Kirby, Netanyahu, Israel Biden, Israel, JIM WATSON, He's, Aaron David Miller, Dave Harden
Organizations:
Service, Hamas, Israeli, Business, Washington, Center for International, House, Monday, Biden, Getty, US, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, Wall Street, New York Times, US Agency for International Development, West Bank, BBC
Locations:
Gaza, Egypt, Israel, Rafah, Ukraine, Israel —, Qatar, New York City, Palestinian, Saudi Arabia