US officials warn Israel against a ground offensive in Rafah

2024-03-27 17:55:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Senior administration officials of President Joe Biden are calling on Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to abandon plans to occupy the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where more than 1.4 million Palestinian civilians have taken refuge. The American request comes at a time of tension in US-Israel relations over Israel's actions in the now six-month war against Hamas militants.

At least 16 people were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a residential building in Rafah on Monday, as Israel continues its campaign of airstrikes in the southern Gaza Strip city.

Israeli leaders want to expand operations in Rafah, including a ground offensive, but senior US officials oppose such a move.

"The safety of the more than 1.5 million Palestinian civilians in Rafah is also a priority for the United States. We continue to support the objective of defeating Hamas. So we will discuss alternative approaches to eliminating Hamas militants," said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

In a meeting with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant yesterday at the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin called on Israel to allow more humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, where civilians are facing severe food shortages. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant received the United States' message on humanitarian aid and military operations in Rafah from other senior US officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.

It is not clear whether Israel will comply with the US demands. Mr Gallant said he had asked for an acceleration of US arms shipments to Israel.

"We will also discuss strategic issues and the importance of cooperation between our institutions to ensure the maintenance of the military advantage of Israel's military," he said.

The United States gives Israel four billion dollars a year in aid, of which Israel must use $3.3 billion to buy American weapons.

"The best-case scenario would be for the United States to use its influence directly, but also through multilateral organizations, to force a ceasefire," says analyst Brian Finucane of the International Crisis Group.

The United States on Monday used its diplomatic power by abstaining in the UN Security Council, which paved the way for the adoption of a resolution that calls for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages from Hamas.

But, until now, President Biden has not given signals about a willingness to condition military aid, despite the protests in which there is a call for the termination of American support for Israel./ VOA