Fetterman rejects Harris suggestion that Israel could face consequences for Rafah invasion: ‘Hard disagree’

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pen., lashed out at Vice President Kamala Harris for suggesting that the U.S. could impose “consequences” on Israel if the nation strikes ahead with an invasion of Rafah.

Fetterman made the assertion on X in response to an interview Harris gave with ABC News on Sunday. She said that it might be a “huge mistake” for Israel to hold out an offensive with out U.S. approval.

“Hard disagree,” Fetterman wrote in response. “Israel has the right to prosecute Hamas to surrender or to be eliminated.”

“Hamas owns every innocent death for their cowardice hiding behind Palestinian lives,” he added.

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Fetterman has emerged as one among Israel’s staunchest allies within the Senate within the wake of the Oct. 7 bloodbath.

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Meanwhile, relations between President Biden’s administration and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s authorities proceed to fray. Netanyahu has vowed that an invasion of Rafah is imminent, with or with out U.S. approval.

Harris explicitly left the potential of consequences for Israel on the desk in her Sunday interview. She cited the dense civilian inhabitants round Rafah and argued they’ve nowhere else to go.

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pen., lashed out at Vice President Kamala Harris for suggesting that the U.S. could impose “consequences” on Israel if the nation strikes ahead with an invasion of Rafah. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

“We have been clear in multiple conversations and in every way that any major military operation in Rafah would be a huge mistake,” Harris informed ABC. “Let me tell you something: I have studied the maps. There’s nowhere for those folks to go.”

“We’re going to take it one step at a time, but we’ve been very clear in terms of our perspective on whether or not [an invasion] should happen,” she added.

“Are you ruling out that there would be consequences from the United States?” ABC reporter Rachel Scott pressed. 

“I am ruling out nothing,” Harris stated.

Vice President Kamala Harris declined to rule out “consequences” for Israel if it strikes ahead with an invasion of Rafah in Gaza on Sunday. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Rafah lies on the border with Egypt, which – like different close by Arab nations – has to date refused to settle for any Palestinian refugees, even quickly.

Representatives for these international locations argue by and enormous that Palestinians shouldn’t be compelled to go away Gaza.

Many Arab states within the area are actively blocking Palestinians from touring out of Gaza, by refusing to concern visas to Palestinian passport holders. Each of these international locations underscores the purpose that they don’t wish to be complicit in a compelled evacuation. They speculate that Israel won’t enable those that go away to return, regardless of feedback by Israel’s overseas minister and others on the contrary.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to ship an Israeli delegation to Washington this week to find out whether or not a compromise may be made relating to Rafah, pictured above. (Reuters/Maxar Technologies)

Netanyahu agreed to ship an Israeli delegation to Washington this week to find out whether or not a compromise may be made relating to Rafah.

Israel says Rafah is the final remaining stronghold of Hamas and the terrorist group’s forces there have to be defeated for Israel to fulfill its warfare targets. Israel vowed to destroy Hamas following the group’s Oct. 7 assault, which killed some 1,200 individuals, took 250 others hostage and triggered the fierce Israeli air and floor offensive in Gaza.

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Rafah now serves as shelter for roughly 1 million Palestinians displaced by the Gaza warfare, nonetheless. The Biden administration has insisted that any plan for an invasion should embody clear and sturdy protections for civilians, they usually have but to be happy with Israel’s precautions.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.