US, Israel hold talks on plans for Rafah offensive
Senior US and Israeli officials have held a virtual meeting about Israel’s plans for the southern Gaza city of Rafah as the United States seeks alternatives to an Israeli offensive.
Displaced Palestinians pitch tents next to the Egyptian border with the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on March 8, 2024. Photo by Abed Rahim Khatib/Flash90
US and Israeli officials said the meeting is a follow-up to a similar meeting held on April 1.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Air Force One that the meeting had begun.
US President Joe Biden has urged Israel not to conduct a large-scale offensive in Rafah to avoid more Palestinian civilian casualties in Gaza, where Palestinian health authorities say more than 33,000 people have been killed in Israel’s assault.
The meeting came before Israel launched an attack on Iranian targets in response to Iran’s launching of a barrage of drones and ballistic missiles last weekend against Israel.
The US was trying to dissuade Israel from retaliatory strikes to avoid inflaming an already tense situation, a second US official said.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan was leading the talks from the US side, with participation from Biden’s Middle East envoy Brett McGurk, among others.
Gazan health authorities say more than 33,000 people have been killed in Israel’s assault. (EPA PHOTO)
Israel’s strategic affairs minister Ron Dermer and national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi were heading the Israeli delegation in the virtual talks, an Israeli official said.
The official said topics would include “the operational and humanitarian planning for Rafah”.
Plans for in-person talks on Rafah have been delayed in the aftermath of Iran’s drone and missile attack on Israel, the official said.
In Ramallah, the Palestinian government called on US officials to “intervene immediately to stop the ongoing Israeli aggression against our Palestinian people”.
AAP
I don’t understand why JWire continues to repeat and repeat the hugely exaggerated casualty figures publicised by Gazan Health Authority. Why doesn’t JWire qualify these figures. We know Hamas has admitted it falsely blamed Israel for causing casualties from day one of the war and now Hamas admits the number stated is wildly exaggerated. It should be said that most of the casualties are a Hamas fighters hiding in underground tunnels, under hospitals, homes, etc.,engaged in shoot-outs with Israeli soldiers,civilians used by Hamas as human shields,etc. So many Israeli soldiers have been killed. It is a myth that most casualties are women and children.