Israel has decided to send a delegation to provide information to US officials regarding an upcoming offensive in Rafah.
This decision was made following a phone call between President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed the news.
Biden, Netanyahu Discuss Plans for Attack on Rafah
During the daily White House press briefing, Sullivan informed the press that Biden and Netanyahu discussed Israel's ongoing campaign in Gaza and their plans for an attack on Rafah. Administration officials, including Biden, have emphasized the importance of a credible plan from the Israelis before the US would support such an offensive.
He mentioned that Biden expressed his deep concern regarding the possibility of Israel carrying out significant military operations in Rafah. He emphasized that these operations should not resemble the ones conducted in Gaza City and Khan Yunus following the attacks by Hamas on October 7, which resulted in the loss of over 1,000 Israeli lives.
"Our position is that Hamas should not be allowed a safe haven in Rafah or anywhere else, but a major ground operation there would be a mistake," Sullivan said.
Sullivan highlighted the significance of Rafah as a crucial gateway for humanitarian aid into Gaza, both from Egypt and Israel. According to AP News, he expressed concern that any potential Israeli invasion of the city could disrupt or jeopardize this vital lifeline at a time when it is desperately needed.
He also mentioned the concerns of Egypt regarding a potential influx of refugees from Rafah crossing the Gaza border into Egypt. Egypt has stated that this situation would lead them to withdraw from the long-standing Camp David Accords peace treaty with Israel.
"Israel has not presented us or the world with a plan for how or where they would safely move those civilians, let alone feed and house them and ensure access to basic things like sanitation," Sullivan said.
Sullivan emphasized the urgent need for Israel to take action and increase efforts to provide food to the starving population in northern Gaza. UN organizations have issued a warning that famine is likely to occur in this region, with a potential onset between mid-March and May.
US Stands Against Israel's Rafah Offensive
Sullivan reiterated the US's stance against the planned Rafah offensive, highlighting the fact that over a million Palestinians sought shelter in the southernmost town of Gaza after fleeing other cities devastated by Israeli airstrikes.
Additionally, he highlighted that Rafah serves as the primary gateway for the limited aid that reaches Gaza, and any disruption could have significant implications for Israeli-Egyptian relations along the border.
Sullivan characterized the Biden-Netanyahu call, their first in more than a month, as "businesslike."
He mentioned that the US president had rejected the arguments presented by the Israeli leader as "straw man."
According to the national security adviser, ongoing discussions are taking place in Doha involving Israel, Qatar, and Egypt with the objective of reaching a hostage agreement. If Hamas agrees to release elderly, sick, and women hostages "tomorrow," a six-week ceasefire will be implemented without delay.
The United States is aiming to surpass the estimated timeframe of 45 to 60 days for constructing a floating dock near the Gaza Strip, said Sullivan. This dock will be used to facilitate the delivery of aid via sea.
The strategy involves US military engineers assembling the dock at sea and subsequently having it floated to shore and secured by Israeli troops. Despite the potential construction of a pier, aid agencies have expressed concerns about the worsening famine in Gaza.
The distribution of food and the need for additional land routes to provide aid to the besieged coastal strip remain unresolved issues, The Guardian reported.
