The White House on Monday reiterated its opposition to Israel’s planned offensive into the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
Speaking to reporters after a telephone call between U.S. President Joe Biden and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, said the proposed military action was a “mistake,” and "would lead to more innocent civilian deaths, worsen the already dire humanitarian crisis, deepen the anarchy in Gaza, and further isolate Israel internationally."
Although Sullivan indicated that the administration is open to finding other ways to remediate the security situation in the area, he criticized Israel for not presenting an adequate plan of how they “would safely move those civilians, let alone feed and house them and ensure access to basic things like sanitation.”
The comments come amid the decision by Jerusalem to send a diplomatic delegation to Washington in the coming days to discuss the issue. The Israelis maintain that the remaining fighting forces of the Hamas terrorist organization are garrisoned in the border city, and a large ground-based operation is the only way to remove them.
Netanyahu has indicated in the past weeks that he is determined to implement the deployment despite outside pressures.
Related Story: Despite Concerns from Allies Netanyahu Committed to Entering Rafah
