U.S. President Joe Biden reiterated his warning to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against launching military action in Rafah without a concrete plan to protect Palestinian civilians, the White House confirmed on Thursday.
This marks the second time in less than a week that Biden has cautioned Netanyahu about advancing into the southern part of the Gaza Strip without ensuring the safety of the approximately 1 million people taking refuge there.
Their discussion also touched on ongoing hostage negotiations, with Biden pledging continuous efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas for 132 days, as stated by the White House.
Israeli forces’ reported incursion into Gaza’s largest functioning hospital raised international concerns over the safety of patients, medical staff, and displaced Palestinians seeking shelter there. Amid mounting pressure to exercise restraint, Israel’s determination to push its offensive into Rafah, the only relatively secure area in Gaza, has drawn significant attention.
Biden previously criticized Israel’s military response in Gaza as “over the top” and expressed deep concern over the escalating civilian casualties in the Palestinian territory.
The conflict erupted on Oct. 7 when Hamas, backed by Iran, launched attacks into Israel, resulting in 1,200 casualties, predominantly civilians, and the seizure of 253 hostages, according to Israeli figures.
Israel’s subsequent air and ground operations have inflicted significant devastation on densely populated Gaza, claiming the lives of approximately 28,663 people, the majority of whom were civilians, according to health authorities. Moreover, the conflict has displaced the vast majority of Gaza’s over 2 million inhabitants from their homes.
