President Biden mentioned on Monday that Israel shouldn’t proceed with a significant floor offensive within the southern Gaza metropolis of Rafah with no “credible plan” to guard a couple of million people who find themselves sheltering there.
Mr. Biden spoke after assembly on the White Home with King Abdullah II of Jordan, a key determine within the push for a cease-fire within the Gaza Strip. It was the primary face-to-face dialog between the 2 leaders because the Israel-Hamas warfare began.
“Many individuals there have been displaced — displaced a number of instances, fleeing the violence to the north, and now they’re packed into Rafah, uncovered and susceptible,” Mr. Biden mentioned throughout an look with King Abdullah. “They must be protected.”
The go to got here as King Abdullah sought to shore up worldwide help for a right away cease-fire in Gaza that will completely halt the combating.
Mr. Biden has rejected the concept of a normal cease-fire, saying Israel has a proper to defend itself. However he has pushed for a pause within the combating that might enable for the discharge of hostages held by Hamas and one thing “extra enduring.”
A lot of Jordan’s inhabitants is ethnically Palestinian, placing the nation — a detailed U.S. ally that has a peace treaty with Israel — in a tough place because it navigates the fallout from the warfare.
King Abdullah mentioned an Israeli invasion of Rafah was “sure to provide one other humanitarian disaster.”
“The state of affairs is already insufferable for over 1,000,000 individuals who had been pushed into Rafah because the warfare began,” King Abdullah mentioned. “We can not stand by and let this proceed. We’d like a long-lasting cease-fire now. This warfare should finish.”
Mr. Biden issued a forceful condemnation of the hovering loss of life toll in Gaza, the place well being officers say greater than 28,000 individuals have been killed because the begin of the warfare.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Mr. Biden mentioned of the deaths. “Each harmless life in Gaza is a tragedy.”
Whereas Mr. Biden’s criticism of the warfare has grown extra blunt within the 4 months because the Oct. 7 assault, the USA has not signaled that it plans main coverage adjustments, comparable to placing situations on navy support to Israel.
On Monday, when requested if Israel would face any penalties for the way it goes about its subsequent navy marketing campaign, John F. Kirby, a White Home spokesman, mentioned that he was not going to get into “hypotheticals.”
He mentioned that the USA was working to affect how Israel performed its warfare.
“There have been moments and there proceed to be moments the place we’ve got the chance and have taken the chance to form their considering and to assist affect the best way they’ve performed a few of these operations,” he mentioned. “And that continues to be at the moment.”
Each Mr. Biden and King Abdullah mentioned the battle ought to finish with a two-state resolution.
“I say this as a protracted, lifelong supporter of Israel,” Mr. Biden mentioned. “That’s the one path that ensures Israel’s safety for the long run.”
King Abdullah mentioned that “that is the one resolution that can assure peace and safety for the Palestinians and Israelis, in addition to the complete area.”
Egypt and Qatar, appearing as intermediaries between Israel and Hamas, have led talks geared toward halting the combating and liberating hostages held in Gaza. The Biden administration has been actively concerned in these negotiations, working publicly and behind the scenes to attempt to advance a cease-fire deal.
On Monday, Mr. Biden mentioned the USA was engaged on a hostage take care of Israel and Hamas that might convey not less than a six-week pause that might “take the time to construct one thing extra enduring.”
The C.I.A. director, William J. Burns, was anticipated to journey to Cairo for talks on the hostages on Tuesday, in line with a U.S. official who spoke on the situation of anonymity concerning the discussions.
Whereas Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel publicly dismissed a Hamas proposal final week, Israeli officers have signaled that their authorities remains to be open to negotiation. The mere proven fact that extra talks will likely be going down in Cairo this week is seen as a constructive signal.
