Netanyahu “determined” to continue Rafah assault, snubs Biden
The long-standing alliance between Israel and the United States grows weaker, with the personal relationship between Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu reaching an all time low just recently, scuppering hopes of a ceasefire in Gaza and raising tensions to fever pitch.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told lawmakers on March 19th that he made it “supremely clear” to US President Joe Biden that Israel would not call off plans for a ground assault in Rafah despite his pleas to do so, according to Saudi news outlet Ashwarq Al Awsat and agencies.
Netanyahu stated that Israel is “determined to complete the elimination of these battalions in Rafah, and there’s no way to do that except by going in on the ground.”
Netanyahu’s remarks follow statements made by US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, who told reporters on March 18th that President Joe Biden had communicated to Netanyahu that a major assault on Rafah would be a “mistake.”
“It would lead to more innocent civilian deaths, worsen the already dire humanitarian crisis, deepen the anarchy in Gaza and further isolate Israel Internationally,” said Sullivan.
Rafah was hit with yet another Israeli airstrike on March 18th. According to Palestinian officials, 20 people were killed and several buildings destroyed. More than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million people currently inhabit the city.
READ: Top US senator slams Netanyahu, demands elections
Sullivan added that Biden had asked Netanyahu in a phone call to send a team of intelligence and military officials should Israel choose to move forward with any major offensive action in Rafah.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on March 18th that US and Israeli officials will likely meet early next week in Washington to discuss Israel’s military operation in Rafah, citing deep concern about reports of imminent famine in Gaza.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) released a report on March 18th that
Gaza’s food shortages had already far surpassed famine levels, and Gazans would soon be dying of hunger at famine-scale rates without a ceasefire.
“The extent of Israel’s continued restrictions on entry of aid into Gaza, together with the manner in which it continues to conduct hostilities, may amount to the use of starvation as a method of war, which is a war crime,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk.
Earlier in March, Biden shared that he was “hoping” to see a ceasefire deal before the start of Ramadan. “But we need to do more,” he added, “and the United States will do more.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken is visiting the Middle East on March 20th to meet with senior leaders of Egypt and Saudi Arabia. During his visit to the Philippines, he stated that this trip would aim to “discuss the right architecture for lasting regional peace.”
READ: Qatar leader in talks with Hamas over Gaza ceasefire
Yet, Blinken made no mention of stopping in Israel itself, and the Israeli foreign ministry said it had received no notification to prepare for one.
According to Reuters, David Barnea, Head of Israeli Institute of Intelligence and Special Operations Mossad, resumed ceasefire talks in Qatar on March 17th, following Israel’s rejection of what they called a “ridiculous” Hamas counter-proposal. He will meet with Qatar Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani and Egyptian officials.
Both sides have been discussing a six-week truce, during which about 40 Israeli hostages would be freed in return for hundreds of Palestinian detainees and Gaza aid deliveries. Yet tensions remain high, with Israel saying it will negotiate only for a temporary pause in offensive action, and Hamas saying it will not release hostages without set plans to end the war.
A Palestinian official close to the mediation talks told Reuters that the new round of negotiations in Qatar could take up to two weeks, citing difficulties in communication between Hamas and Israeli officials after six months at war.
Ashwarq Al Awsat and agencies
