The United States has issued a stern warning to Israel against launching a ground invasion of the densely populated city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip, cautioning that such an operation would exacerbate the already dire humanitarian situation in the besieged enclave.
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan emphasized on Monday that President Joe Biden is committed to the objective of defeating Hamas. Still, he conveyed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that a large-scale assault on Rafah would be ill-advised.
Sullivan stated, “It would result in more innocent civilian casualties, worsen the already severe humanitarian crisis, escalate chaos in Gaza, and further isolate Israel internationally.”
Biden and Netanyahu (Credits: Asia Times)
Biden urged Netanyahu to dispatch a delegation of intelligence and military officials to Washington, DC, to discuss apprehensions about a potential incursion into Rafah.
Throughout the conflict, Israel has directed Palestinian civilians in Gaza to relocate southward as it advanced into the territory from the north.
Many residents were initially displaced to the central part of the enclave before being transferred to the southern city of Khan Younis. Ultimately, they were compelled to flee again to Rafah, which is situated on the Egyptian border.
Rafah’s population has surged to over 1.5 million in the past five months, up from approximately 300,000 before the conflict erupted.
Israeli leaders have repeatedly expressed their intentions to invade Rafah, a crucial hub for humanitarian aid entering from the Egyptian border.
However, UN experts have sounded the alarm about an impending famine in the territory, and Western nations, including Israel’s European allies, have cautioned against an assault on Rafah. The US has now unequivocally joined these calls, with Sullivan emphasizing that the Palestinians in Rafah have no alternative refuge.
Netanyahu (Credits: Philadelphia Inquirer)
He remarked, “Gaza’s other major cities have largely been destroyed, and Israel has not presented us or the world with a plan for how or where they would safely relocate those civilians — let alone provide for their basic needs like sanitation.”
While reiterating Biden’s unwavering commitment to Israel’s security, Sullivan also criticized Israel’s military campaign. He emphasized the need for a comprehensive humanitarian and political strategy to accompany military operations and underscored the importance of a clear strategic endgame.
Despite the US president’s steadfast support for Israel, Netanyahu and Biden are reported to have a tense relationship, notwithstanding their regular phone conversations since the conflict began.
