The White House tries to warn Israel against entering Rafah in crucial talks, as Netanyahu prepares for more attacks on Gaza AND Iran
- A virtual meeting between American and Israeli officials took place at the White House
- U.S. officials expressed “concern about the various actions in Rafah,” the White House said in a readout of the meeting.
- Both sides agreed to further talks
Senior US and Israeli officials held a virtual meeting on Thursday to discuss Israeli plans for the southern Gaza city of Rafah and how the country is considering a retaliatory strike against Iran.
President Joe Biden has encouraged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to attack Rafah, where at least 1.4 million Palestinian refugees are sheltering. Biden also made clear that the US, which helped Israel fend off the April 13 Iranian attack, would not support an attack on Tehran.
U.S. officials expressed “concerns about the various actions in Rafah,” the White House said in a readout of the meeting. Israel agreed to “take these concerns into account” and hold further follow-up talks.
Internally displaced Palestinians on the beach, near the Rafah refugee camp, in the south of the Gaza Strip
But it is unclear what message Biden administration officials gave to Israel about Rafah and whether Israel promised not to take action until the additional discussions took place.
“The two sides agreed on the shared goal of seeing Hamas defeated in Rafah,” the White House said in its readout.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan co-chaired the meeting with Biden’s Middle East envoy Brett McGurk.
Joining them on the Israeli side were Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi.
“The main purpose is really to talk about Rafah … and also to share our ongoing concerns about a major ground offensive there,” White House national security communications adviser John Kirby said of the meeting.
This is the second meeting between the two parties. An in-person meeting was scheduled to take place in Washington this week, but was postponed due to the Iranian attack.
Netanyahu has given indications that he plans to make progress on two fronts: Gaza and Israel.
He reportedly told his allies that Israel’s response to Iran will be measured. He has also given assurances that he will get aid to Gaza and ensure that civilians and aid organizations have ample opportunity to flee any coming attack.
Palestinians examine the large hole after the Israeli attack on building refugee housing in Rafah
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan led the talks on behalf of the US
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) (seen above, with British Foreign Secretary David Cameron on the left) wants to fight a war on two fronts: Rafah and Iran
Biden has been frustrated with Netanyahu over the situation in Gaza, especially after an Israeli attack resulted in the deaths of seven World Central Kitchen aid workers.
The president has demanded that Israel provide humanitarian aid in the war-torn, famine-ridden region and grant a temporary ceasefire to get the hostages out.
Biden is under intense pressure at home and abroad to ensure the safety of aid workers and deliver crucial supplies to the Palestinian people.
Local health authorities report that more than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed during the Israeli campaign.
International outrage against Israel followed after the convoy of World Central Kitchen aid workers was hit by an Israeli ‘triple tap’ drone strike in early April, killing seven. The three cars were marked as humanitarian aid and were hit while traveling along a route approved by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
But allies came out in droves to Netanyahu’s defense last weekend as Iran sent more than 300 missiles and drones toward Tehran.
Israeli forces knocked most of them out of the sky with help from American, British, French and Jordanian forces.