Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Friday, Mar 06, 2026

Biden's Shifting Red Lines on Israel's Rafah Assault: Balancing Act Amidst Global Pressure and Domestic Politics

Biden's Shifting Red Lines on Israel's Rafah Assault: Balancing Act Amidst Global Pressure and Domestic Politics

Joe Biden is under pressure to take a firmer stance against Israel's assault on Rafah following a deadly strike that killed 45 people.
Despite global outrage, the White House maintains that it does not believe Israel launched a major military offensive, contradicting Biden's previous warnings.

Biden faces a balancing act between domestic and international pressure over Gaza, particularly in an election year.

Biden has tried to appear tough on Israel's actions in Rafah but has shifted his red lines due to election year pressure.

He initially halted weapons supply and even halted a bomb shipment, but since then, he has taken no action as Israel has increased air attacks and deployed tanks.

The White House now focuses on defining what constitutes an invasion instead.

Last week, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan stated there was no specific formula for determining US response to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and expressed concern over the loss of life.

This week, White House Press Secretary Kirby faced intense questioning over an Israeli strike that resulted in the deaths of dozens of people in a displaced persons camp.

Kirby described the deaths as "heartbreaking" and "horrific," but there would be no policy change towards Israel.

Despite international pressure on President Biden to take action, he has continued to support Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu despite deep disagreements since the conflict began with Hamas' October 7 attack.

The White House has not seen evidence of large-scale Israeli military operations in Rafah.

The United States is facing pressure from both domestic and international sources over Israel's assault on Rafah, which goes against a ruling from the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The US and Israel are members of the ICJ.

Protests against Biden's support for Israel have occurred on university campuses, and some Democrats oppose his stance.

Republicans, on the other hand, have criticized Biden for allegedly weak support for Israel.

Speaker of the US House of Representatives Mike Johnson invited Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to address Congress.

Former US ambassador Gordon Gray, now a professor at George Washington University, described the situation as a difficult balancing act.

The Biden administration is trying to find a middle ground on a contentious issue, but it may not satisfy voters with strong opinions.

Gray, a political analyst, believes Biden's long-standing support for Israel will keep him from changing his position, as he acts out of conviction rather than political gain.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Saudi Arabia Considers Response After Iranian Drone Strike Hits Major Northern Oil Refinery
Saudi Carrier Flynas Plans Limited Flight Resumption to Dubai Amid Regional Tensions
Saudi Arabia and UAE Pledge Close Coordination to Secure Oil Supplies for Japan
Middle East Conflict Casts Doubt Over Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Formula One Races
Iran Rejects Claims of Attacks on Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia and Oman
Saudi Arabia Condemns Iranian Strikes Targeting Türkiye and Azerbaijan
Saudi Pro League Orders Clubs to Continue Matches Despite Escalating Regional Conflict
U.S. Embassy in Riyadh Issues Emergency Security Alert After Drone Strike and Escalating Regional Threats
Saudi Arabia Scrambles to Redirect Oil Exports as Gulf Storage Nears Capacity
Iran Expresses Gratitude to Saudi Arabia for Closing Airspace During Escalating Conflict
Saudi Arabia Fears Iranian Strikes Could Target Senior Leaders as Regional War Escalates
Iran Says Its Strikes Target Only U.S. Military Assets and Denies Attacking Saudi Arabia
Drone Strike Hits U.S. Embassy in Riyadh as Middle East Conflict Escalates
Tom Brady’s Saudi Flag Football Event May Shift to U.S. as Middle East Conflict Disrupts Plans
Iran War Strikes Saudi Arabia at a Critical Moment for Its Economic Transformation
Saudi Cabinet Declares Kingdom Will Take All Necessary Measures to Defend National Security
United States Urges Citizens to Leave Fourteen Middle Eastern Countries as Iran War Escalates
Saudi Aramco’s Ras Tanura Refinery Targeted Again in Second Drone Attack Within Two Days
Saudi Pro League Orders Clubs to Continue Fixtures Despite Rising Middle East Conflict
Trump Pursues Major Civil Nuclear Agreement With Saudi Arabia Amid Regional Turmoil
Mass Drone Attacks Strike Gulf States as Iran Conflict Spreads Across Region
No Verified Confirmation of Ronaldo Departure Linked to Iran Conflict or AFC Suspension
No Verified Evidence of Israeli Intelligence Arrests in Qatar or Saudi Arabia
Drone Attack Forces Temporary Shutdown of Saudi Arabia’s Largest Oil Refinery
Israel Intensifies Air Campaign in Tehran as Iran Expands Regional Retaliation
Iranian Strikes Escalate Middle East Conflict, Drawing Saudi Arabia Closer to Wider War
No Verified Confirmation of Drone Strike on King Fahd Causeway Amid Regional Tensions
No Verified Evidence Saudi Crown Prince Is Seeking to Weaken Israel Amid Regional Tensions
Reports Emerge of Drone Strike Near US Embassy in Saudi Arabia as Americans Told to Shelter
Saudi Arabia Weighs Strategic Options as Tensions With Iran Intensify
Iran Expands Strikes on Saudi and Qatari Infrastructure, Opening a New Front in Gulf Conflict
Western Navies Sound Alarm as Russian Shadow Tankers Transit NATO Waters in Defiance of Sanctions
U.S. Embassy in Riyadh Struck by Drones Amid Escalating Iran Conflict
Imola Emerges as Standby Venue if Bahrain or Saudi Arabia Grands Prix Are Cancelled
Uncertainty Clouds $24 Billion Gulf Investment Linked to Paramount–WBD Deal
Middle East Strikes Disrupt Qatar LNG, Saudi Refining and Israeli Energy Fields
Gulf States Signal Possible Collective Action Over Iran’s Escalating Strikes
Saudi Arabia Summons Iranian Ambassador After Cross-Border Attacks
Saudi Arabia Intercepts Drones Targeting Ras Tanura Oil Refinery as Conflict Escalates
Saudi Arabia Clarifies It Supported Diplomacy With Iran, Not Military Escalation
Putin and Saudi Crown Prince Confer on Escalating Iran Crisis
Drone Strike Forces Shutdown of Saudi Arabia’s Largest Oil Refinery
Saudi Arabia Signals Harder Line on Iran as Regional Conflict Deepens
Strikes in Qatar and Saudi Arabia Pull Energy Infrastructure Deeper Into Expanding Middle East Conflict
U.S. and Israel Intensify Strikes on Iran as Conflict Expands to Lebanon and Gulf States
Violent Pro-Iranian Protesters Storm U.S. Consulate in Karachi
Missile Debris Sparks Fires at Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port Near Palm Jumeirah
Iran Strikes U.S. Fifth Fleet Headquarters in Bahrain Amid Wider Gulf Retaliation
Emerging Saudi–Turkish Alignment Draws Attention as Potential Strategic Challenge for Israel
Saudi Arabia Unveils $100 Billion Technology Investment Fund to Accelerate Post-Oil Diversification
×