U.S. ‘Can’t Connect Those Dots’ Between Israeli Airstrike and Civilian Deaths

The Biden administration says it is waiting on Israel’s investigation into a deadly strike on a tent camp and says it is not currently changing its policy.

Palestinians look at the destruction after an Israeli strike where displaced people were staying in Rafah, Gaza Strip
Graphic images of Palestinians, including infants, killed in the strike and a resulting fire in a designated “safe zone” prompted global condemnation. Jehad Alshrafi/AP

The Biden administration, under pressure to address the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike on a Rafah tent camp that killed at least 45 civilians, says it is deferring to Israel to investigate the matter and not yet changing its policy toward the conflict.

“No change to our current policy,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Tuesday. “As of yet, it’s not changing. We do support, as we always have, their ability to go after legitimate Hamas terrorists, and that, of course, includes using American-provided weapons.”

The White House echoed this sentiment, saying it was on Israel to carry out its accountability measures.