US President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, emphasizing his clear opposition to an invasion of Rafah as efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza continue.
With international attention on the more than 1 million Palestinians seeking refuge in Rafah and other southern areas of Gaza, Biden highlighted that the US would oppose an Israeli offensive without proper arrangements to accommodate and care for these civilians.
The White House National Security spokesperson, John Kirby, noted that Israel had assured Washington they would take US views into consideration before taking any military action in Rafah.
“They’ve assured us that they won’t go into Rafah until we’ve had a chance to really share our perspectives and our concerns with them,” Kirby stated during an interview with ABC television.
Meanwhile, health authorities in Gaza reported that Israeli airstrikes on three houses in Rafah killed 13 people and wounded many more on Sunday.
In their conversation, Biden and Netanyahu also reviewed the status of ongoing negotiations to release Israeli hostages, with discussions set to continue in Cairo.
Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Majed al-Ansari, spoke to the Israeli media, urging Israel and Hamas to demonstrate “more commitment and more seriousness” in the negotiations.
Qatar, along with the US and Egypt, played a significant role in negotiating a temporary ceasefire in November, leading to the release of dozens of hostages.
However, Qatar has indicated that it is reassessing its role due to the apparent lack of progress.
Al-Ansari expressed frustration with both Hamas and Israel, criticizing their decisions for being driven by political interests rather than humanitarian concerns.
He revealed that negotiations had “effectively stopped,” with both sides entrenched in their positions.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected in Saudi Arabia to discuss ceasefire talks and humanitarian aid for Gaza.
An Israeli delegation will soon travel to Egypt to continue the latest negotiations, while a Hamas delegation is also expected to visit Cairo to discuss hostages and potential ceasefire agreements.
Egyptian officials are working to mediate between Hamas and Israel, proposing an initial arrangement where a small number of hostages would be released in exchange for allowing Palestinians in Gaza to return to their homes.
An Egyptian official told the Associated Press that mediators are working on a compromise that addresses both sides’ primary concerns to pave the way for further negotiations and a potential end to the conflict.
During the conversation between Biden and Netanyahu, the US President also called for increased humanitarian aid to Gaza, with preparations to open new northern crossings in the coming days.
Biden stressed the importance of ensuring sustained and enhanced humanitarian support, coordinated with international humanitarian organizations.
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