Biden Urges Netanyahu to Protect Civilians in Rafah – White House, Reuters

By Andrea Shalal

WILMINGTON – U.S. President Joe Biden urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday to refrain from launching a military operation in Rafah unless there is a credible plan in place to safeguard the approximately 1 million individuals currently seeking refuge there, according to the White House.

During a 45-minute call, Biden expressed concern about Israel’s military actions in the Gaza Strip, describing them as "over the top" and highlighting the rising civilian death toll in the area.

The conversation mainly focused on the ongoing efforts to secure the release of the remaining 132 hostages held by the Hamas group in Gaza. A senior administration official revealed that "real progress" has been made in recent weeks, although there are still some "significant" gaps to bridge. The official noted that the agreement is "pretty much there," and Biden stressed the importance of acting quickly to secure the hostages’ release.

Biden also reiterated that "a military operation in Rafah cannot proceed without a credible and implementable plan to ensure the safety of the over 1 million people sheltering there," emphasizing that these individuals have "nowhere to go."

His warnings against military action in Rafah come amid growing concerns from aid organizations that such an operation could lead to even more civilian casualties and potentially derail efforts to negotiate the release of hostages. A senior Hamas official warned that any ground offensive in Rafah would jeopardize the ongoing hostage negotiations.

Netanyahu’s office has stated it has directed the military to devise a plan for evacuating Rafah and dismantling four Hamas battalions it claims are situated there.

The U.S. official noted that while the United States supports the goal of defeating Hamas, it has consistently urged Israel to protect innocent civilians during military operations. Israeli leaders have indicated that ensuring the safety of civilians is a "clear precondition" for any military actions, stating they would not consider operations without it.

Biden reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to Israel’s long-term security while also calling for "urgent and specific steps" to enhance humanitarian assistance for Palestinian civilians in Gaza. This includes a substantial shipment of U.S. flour aimed at feeding 1.4 million people in Gaza for six months.

Following their conversation, the White House confirmed that Biden and Netanyahu agreed to maintain close communication, though no date was set for a follow-up call. Biden is scheduled to host Jordanian King Abdullah at the White House on Monday and has been actively involved in the negotiations for the hostages’ release. U.S. officials are also in regular contact with regional leaders and Egypt.

Regarding Biden’s previous comments, Netanyahu mentioned during a Sunday interview that he had not spoken with Biden since the "over the top" remark and was unsure of its intent. The U.S. official indicated that this particular comment was not discussed during their recent call, which was their first since December.

When asked in an ABC interview about the number of Israeli hostages still alive, Netanyahu cited that there are "enough to warrant the kind of efforts that we’re doing."

Health authorities in Gaza, controlled by Hamas, estimate that over 28,000 Palestinians, mainly civilians, have died as a result of the ongoing conflict that has escalated since October. Reports indicate that around 70% of those killed were women or children under the age of 18. The World Health Organization has praised the Palestinian Health Ministry for its casualty reporting, which is frequently referenced by U.N. agencies.

Hamas militants killed about 1,200 Israelis and took approximately 250 hostages back to Gaza during the October assault that instigated the current conflict.