Dozens of House Democrats write to Biden over concerns of Israeli invasion of Rafah

More than 30 Democrats in the House of Representatives have written to Joe Biden over concerns that a possible Israeli ground invasion in southern Gaza could break aid rules he set.

Ina letter sent to the president on Tuesday, the group said that the move in Rafah would likely go against Mr Biden’s declaration that any country receiving US weapons must use them in adherence with international humanitarian law.

“We write to express our deep sense of urgency and alarm about the potentially devastating consequences to innocent civilians of an Israeli military ground invasion of Rafah,” the letter stated. “We share the position highlighted by US Ambassador to the UN Thomas-Greenfield that ‘no attacks on Rafah should take place, given current circumstances.’”

The group, led by Texas congressman Joaquin Castro, Maryland’s Jamie Raskin and Jan Schakowsky of Illinois, said that an extended Israeli offensive in Rafah would “further deteriorate the already dreadful conditions” being experienced by Palestinians there.

Palestinians walk past the rubble of a house destroyed by Israeli bombardment in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on March 3, 2024

The letter, signed by 37 members of Congress, pointed out that plans laid out by members of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government included the expulsion and transfer of civilians to “destinations outside the Gaza Strip”, which could violate the Biden Administration’s rules around aid given to Israel.

Israel was originally given until mid-March to agree to abide by international law whilst using US weapons. Rafah has already come under aerial fire, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously said that a ground assault was “inevitable”.

“We urge you to use every tool at your disposal to