In a significant development, the Washington Post has reported that the Biden administration is set to offer its approval for a limited Israeli incursion into the Hamas-controlled city of Rafah.

According to the report, which cites anonymous sources familiar with discussions between US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Israeli officials, the Biden administration has come to recognize the necessity of Israel’s actions in defending its citizens against Hamas’s relentless attacks.

The White House now believes that a limited operation will result in fewer civilian casualties than initially anticipated, a clear indication that Israel is taking every precaution to minimize harm to civilians caught in the crossfire of Hamas’s violent campaign. This marks a welcome shift in US policy, as Biden has come under heavy criticism for his reluctance to fully support Israel’s right to self-defense.

It is also worth noting that Israel’s planned operation in Rafah is part of a broader strategy to address the “day after” scenario. Israeli defense officials have reportedly agreed on a plan that includes the establishment of an Arab security force, drawn in part from the Palestinian Authority’s administrative payroll in Gaza, and overseen by a governing council of Arab states.