WH calls for talks with 'Israel' to prevent clash over Rafah: Axios
3 Min Read
US officials tell Axios that, in recent days, the Biden administration has been exploring various alternatives to an immediate Israeli ground invasion of Rafah.
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A tent camp housing Palestinians displaced by the Israeli aggression is seen in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Tuesday, February 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Hatem Ali)
US President Joe Biden's administration is considering various options instead of an Israeli ground invasion of the southern Gazan city of Rafah, which it plans to present to a senior Israeli delegation visiting Washington next week, Axios reported citing two US officials.
According to the officials, the White House has arranged this meeting in an attempt to prevent a near clash between the United States and "Israel" over Rafah, where over one million displaced Palestinians have sought refuge amid the ongoing Israeli aggression.
The Biden administration strongly opposes any Israeli military action in Rafah and has expressed concerns that "Israel" lacks a viable plan to protect Palestinian civilians there. But Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that the invasion of Rafah is a must to "eliminate Hamas."
On Monday, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan warned that such an invasion could block the entry of urgently needed humanitarian aid from Egypt to Gaza, isolate "Israel" on the international stage, and jeopardize Egypt's normalization agreement with "Israel".
US and Israeli officials told Axios that, during their Monday phone conversation, Biden surprised Netanyahu by suggesting that the premier send a delegation to Washington to discuss the Rafah operation, revealing that this was the first time the Israelis were informed about the meeting.
Two US officials mentioned that the idea had been under consideration within the Biden administration for several days as a means to steer toward a more constructive path with "Israel".
One official explained that "the fear was that the negotiations over the hostage deal could collapse and then the Israelis will just go ahead with a Rafah invasion, which would be a breaking point for the U.S.-Israeli relationship."
The US officials said that the White House recognized the necessity not only to advise "Israel" on what not to do but also to present a US alternative.
Axios said that, in recent days, the Biden administration has been exploring various alternatives to an immediate Israeli ground invasion of Rafah.
The American news website cited US officials as saying that one proposal was to postpone the invasion and instead focus on addressing the humanitarian crisis in northern Gaza, where famine is imminent, as per a UN-backed report released on Monday.
This proposal also entailed the construction of shelters for Palestinian civilians evacuated from Rafah.
It is noteworthy that, in addition to providing the Israeli occupation entity with military support, the United States has vetoed three draft resolutions, two of which would have called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, citing concerns about jeopardizing ongoing efforts to broker a pause in fighting and release Israeli captives.
Washington has also abstained twice on resolutions aimed at aiding Gaza and calling for pauses in the fighting.
Read more: UNSC non-permanent members prepare Gaza ceasefire draft resolution
