US, 'Israel' at 'odds' regarding Rafah invasion: Axios

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Axios
3 Apr 2024 10:02

In a virtual meeting between Israeli and American officials, the Rafah invasion was discussed, highlighting the differences in approach toward the invasion.

An Israeli and US flag are reflected on a conference table as Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin meets with Israeli Security Minister Yoav Gallant, at the Pentagon, Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Washington. (AP)

The United States and the Israeli occupation have stumbled on a few rifts during a 2.5-hour virtual meeting between their respective representatives, informed sources relayed to Axios.

The meeting was attended by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on the American side, with Sullivan's Israeli counterpart Tzachi Hanegbi and the Israeli occupation's Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, and highlighted the differences between both parties regarding the Israeli plot to invade Rafah.

This comes after a previously scheduled meeting was canceled by "Israel" after the US abstained from voting on a ceasefire resolution at the UN Security Council, instead of vetoing it.

The invasion of Rafah was welcomed by the US but conditioned with a plan to safely evacuate over one million Palestinians residing in the Gazan city.

Axios reported, citing informed sources, that "Israel" is confident that a fully realized evacuation would take at least four weeks, maybe longer. The US, on the other hand, stressed that the estimated length was unrealistic and that the task is being underestimated by "Israel".

Defeating Hamas remains main objective

The worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, imposed by "Israel's" warmongering, creates conditions that impede the evacuation of Gazans from Rafah, according to the US, making it so a four-month duration would be needed, at a minimum, to fully and safely depopulate the city. "Israel" expectedly rejected the estimation.

"It is clear to everybody that we will have to find a middle ground here," a source told Axios.

The US suggested that Rafah be isolated from Gaza, that the Egyptian-Gazan border be secured, and that "Israel" conduct its military invasion at a lower intensity than it has previously been doing over the past seven months. The US claimed that intelligence-based raids against Hamas locations would be more efficient than full-scale destruction of Rafah.

The US and "Israel" both agreed that the unrealistic goal of defeating Hamas remains the main objective of the genocide, resulting in a "constructive" meeting.

The prioritization of reputation

Regarding the unfolding famine in Gaza, Sullivan told the Israeli officials that the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) organization is close to officially declaring famine in Gaza in the upcoming few weeks.

Sullivan, in this regard, stressed that a famine declaration, the third of its kind in the 21st century, would reflect badly on the US and "Israel".

"Israel" rejected the declaration and claimed the Israeli occupation forces and authorities are more informed on the health situation in Gaza. In response, the US slammed "Israel's" credibility and said it was the only entity "in the world" that is denying the fact that Gaza is starving. It also emphasized that the Israeli denial was "not a good look" for the occupation.

A few weeks ago, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a stark warning that children in Gaza are on the verge of death due to acute starvation.

WHO representative Margaret Harris shared troubling reports of doctors observing starvation in children to the point of seeing newborn babies "simply dying because they [are] too low birth weight."

Speaking to media in Geneva, Harris stressed the critical need for nutritional intervention to preserve these young lives.

Harris emphasized the dangers of starvation during pregnancy, which she blames completely on the effects of the raging bombardment from "Israel", and called the malnutrition "entirely a consequence of human actions."

The WHO is aggressively establishing emergency malnutrition stabilization facilities to assist Gaza's most vulnerable, but the efforts are being stifled due to intentional Israeli barriers and restrictions.