National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan led the US team in talks with Israel over Rafah. Reuters
By The Smartencyclopedia Staff & Agencies
In a pivotal online summit on Thursday, senior White House officials engaged in discussions with Israeli authorities regarding potential plans for an incursion into the city of Rafah in southern Gaza.
Led by National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, the US delegation convened virtually, while Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer and National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi spearheaded the Israeli contingent.
“The main purpose is to talk about Rafah and to continue to have a conversation with the Israelis about their intentions, and to also share our continued concerns over a major ground offensive there,” elaborated National Security Council spokesman John Kirby during a briefing aboard Air Force One.
President Joe Biden has adamantly voiced Washington’s opposition to a large-scale Israeli military operation in Rafah, citing grave risks to Palestinian civilians.
With the United Nations estimating a population of 1.3 million in the southern Gaza enclave, many have been displaced following previous Israeli military actions in other regions of the territory.
According to local authorities, the toll from Israeli strikes on Gaza stands at over 33,900 lives lost.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged retaliation following a recent barrage of drones and missiles launched by Iran towards Israel over the weekend.
“The discussion began in a small group format to discuss the Iran attack and the collective efforts to further enhance Israel’s defense through advanced capabilities, as well as co-operation with a broad coalition of military partners,” the White House revealed in a statement post-Thursday’s deliberations.
“The two sides agreed on the shared objective to see Hamas defeated in Rafah.
“US participants expressed concerns with various courses of action in Rafah, and Israeli participants agreed to take these concerns into account and to have further follow-up discussions between experts.”
Efforts to convene in-person talks between White House officials and their Israeli counterparts have been ongoing for weeks, albeit with no confirmed date as of yet.
While Prime Minister Netanyahu initially agreed to dispatch a high-level delegation to Washington to address US concerns in March, plans were disrupted over a contentious UN vote.
Recent media speculation suggested that the US might have tacitly greenlit an incursion into Rafah in exchange for a limited Israeli strike on Iran. However, a National Security Council official debunked these claims, labeling them as “not accurate”.
Amidst escalating tensions, Washington has reiterated its commitment to prevent the Israel-Gaza conflict from spilling over into neighboring regions.