A senior American official judged on Tuesday that Israel had “taken into account” Washington’s concerns regarding military operations in Rafah, in the south of the Gaza Strip.
“The Israelis have reviewed their plans. They have taken into account many of the concerns that we have expressed,” expressed a senior American official, during an exchange with journalists. “It’s an ongoing discussion” and it is “constructive,” said this senior official, who requested anonymity.
It noted U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s conversations with senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, last weekend in Israel. “What matters is what will actually happen” on the ground, added the source already cited, noting: “We do not give the green light to Israeli operations, that is not our role.”
A massive evacuation from Rafah
US President Joe Biden has publicly stated his opposition to a large-scale ground offensive in Rafah. Israel launched ground operations in certain areas of Rafah on May 7 despite opposition from the international community, which is concerned about more than a million civilians trapped in this city.
The Israeli army has ordered massive evacuations from Rafah where it says it wants to destroy the last Hamas battalions, its network of tunnels, and rescue the hostages.