On Monday, March 18, President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu conducted a conference call for the first time in more than 30 days. National security adviser Jake Sullivan described the call as “business-like” while the two world leaders spar over Israel’s proposed military operation in the city of Rafah in southwestern Gaza. According to Sullivan, Biden is urging not carry an all out assault on the city because it is home to many civilians.
“They have nowhere else to go,” Sullivan told reporters.
“Gaza’s other major cities have largely been destroyed and Israel has not presented us, or the world, with a plan for how or where they would safely move those civilians, let alone feed and house them.”
Instead, Biden asked Netanyahu to send Israeli officials to the United States, so they could work out an alternative approach to the matter. The Israeli Prime Minister reportedly agreed to do so, but it is unclear when that meeting will take place.
“From the president’s perspective, we’ve arrived at a point where each side has been making clear to the other its perspective, its view,” Sullivan explained.
“And now we really need to get down to brass tacks and have the chance for a delegation from each side on an integrated basis, everyone sitting around the same table, talking through the way forward.”
Since October 7, 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Sullivan argues that an invasion of Rafah would lead to “more innocent civilian deaths.”
“It would lead to more innocent civilian deaths, worsen the already dire humanitarian crisis, deepen the anarchy in Gaza, and further isolate Israel internationally,” Sullivan said.
