6/5/2024–|Last Updated: 5/6/202408:55 PM (Makkah Time)
US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held phone conversations that lasted half an hour and focused on the Israeli threat to occupy Rafah and the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
Reuters cited a US official as saying that Biden discussed the issue of the town of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, during a phone call with Netanyahu.
The Associated Press reported that the US president repeated Israeli Prime Minister Washington’s concerns about the military operation in the town of Rafah.
The agency reported that Biden told Netanyahu that a ceasefire with Hamas was the best way to protect the lives of Israeli prisoners in Gaza.
The White House said Netanyahu agreed to ensure the opening of the Kerem Shalom crossing for humanitarian aid to those in need.
US no
The Israel Broadcasting Corporation said the phone call between Biden and Netanyahu lasted half an hour, while Israeli military radio said they “discussed the context of US efforts to prevent a large-scale Israeli military operation in Rafah.”
For its part, the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said the phone conversation between Biden and Netanyahu focused on Israeli preparations to occupy Rafah.
Israel’s military radio reported that Biden spoke with Netanyahu in the context of US efforts to prevent a large-scale operation in Rafah.
In turn, US National Security Council Communications Adviser John Kirby told Al Jazeera, “We made our view clear to the Israeli government: We still believe that a major ground occupation of Rafah is the best way to save them. We do not support the Israeli government’s decision to close Al Jazeera’s offices because the hostage talks are still ongoing.
Today, Monday, the Israeli Defense Ministry announced the launch of a military operation in Rafah, which it said was limited, and warned 100,000 Palestinians to forcibly evacuate east of the city to the al-Mawasi area. Southwest of the strip.
The area the Israeli military is demanding an evacuation includes the Rafah crossing on the border with Egypt, a key crossing point for humanitarian aid into Gaza and used to transport dozens of seriously injured people for treatment abroad. .
This comes as warnings have increased in recent hours at the level of countries and international organizations about the dangers of Israeli action on Rafah.
war crime
France warned that any forced displacement from Rafah would amount to a war crime, and Germany expressed its concern over the humanitarian tragedy that could result from the Israeli move.
The Palestinian president announced on Monday that he is conducting intensive contacts with regional and international parties, especially the Americans, to prevent the Israeli army from invading Rafah.
Izzat al-Rishq, a member of the Hamas politburo, warned on Monday that any Israeli military action in Rafah would jeopardize the ceasefire talks, adding that “it will not be a picnic for the enemy army.”
Since October 7, Israel, backed by the United States, has been waging a war on Gaza that has killed and wounded about 113,000 people, most of them children and women, and left about 10,000 missing amid massive destruction and famine that claimed the lives of children. And the elderly.
