Photo : Collected
A virtual meeting between US and Israeli representatives on Israel's planned military operation in the city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip revealed deep divides between the sides on several issues, the Axios portal reported on Wednesday (3 April), said US officials.
On Monday, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the US side, and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi on the Israeli side had a video call. Following the talks, the White House said in a readout that Israel had agreed to take into account US concerns regarding the Rafah invasion and that the sides agreed to follow up discussions within the next two weeks.
A large part of the meeting was devoted to the evacuation of civilians from Rafah. The Israeli side said that it would be possible to evacuate the residents in four weeks or more, Axios reported citing sources. The American counterparts objected, saying that this estimate was unrealistic and that the evacuation could last up to four months.
Washington also expressed concern about negative consequences for Israel and the US of a potential famine in the enclave. The Israeli side, in turn, called statements that the Gaza Strip is on the verge of famine disinformation.
The US also offered Israel an alternative approach to the Rafah operation involving isolating the city, conducting intelligence-based raids as well as focusing on attacks against senior commanders of the Palestinian Hamas movement.
On March 22, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he was still determined to enter Rafah as there was no other way to defeat the remaining Hamas forces, adding that he would do that with or without US support.
Messenger/Mumu
