President Biden pressed the Israeli government against a full invasion of Rafah during a phone call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, the White House announced.
Biden “reiterated his clear position” on Rafah during the call, the White House said, as the Israeli military moved closer to an invasion of the southern Gaza city. The Biden administration has repeatedly urged the Israeli military not to enter the city without a clear plan to avoid mass civilian casualties.
Israel has increased attacks on Rafah in recent days as Israeli leaders say storming the city is a military necessity in the campaign to drive Hamas out of Gaza. Netanyahu announced that a date has been set for the Rafah invasion, although the State Department said earlier this month that the plans had not been communicated to US leaders.
Biden also continued discussions about a potential hostage deal between Israel and Hamas. More than 100 hostages taken during the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel remain under the control of Hamas, although negotiations for a second hostage agreement have slowed in recent weeks.
The president also discussed the humanitarian situation in Gaza, the White House said, working with Netanyahu to open additional humanitarian corridors from Israel to the territory. The United Nations and humanitarian organizations in Gaza have warned that the region has fallen into famine, with a severe lack of access to food and medicine.
“The President underscored the need for this progress to be sustained and improved in full coordination with humanitarian organizations,” the White House said of the expansion of humanitarian aid.
A US-backed seaport in Gaza is set to begin sending aid directly to the territory by sea early next month, senior military officials said last week.
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