US tells Israel it won’t back Rafah operation ‘as currently planned’ — RT World News
The US State Department said that attacking Gaza City would disrupt the delivery of humanitarian aid
The US State Department said on Monday that the United States cannot support a large-scale attack on Rafah because it would lead to additional loss of life and disrupt the delivery of humanitarian aid.
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller's statements came at a time when Israeli aircraft began bombing the city on the border with Egypt, which currently includes about 1.4 million Palestinians displaced from northern and central Gaza.
“We do not support Israel launching a large-scale military operation in Rafah.” Miller told reporters in Washington.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials in West Jerusalem last week that the United States could not support an attack on Rafah. “As currently conceived” Miller added.
Israel did not present the United States with a humanitarian plan for the Strip “This is credible and actionable.” A Foreign Ministry spokesman said. He added: “We believe that carrying out a military operation in Rafah now would greatly increase the suffering of the Palestinian people.”
Miller pointed out that most of the humanitarian aid currently being delivered to Gaza comes through the Rafah crossing through Egypt, noting that an incursion into the city would exacerbate the problem. “It makes it very difficult to sustain the increases in humanitarian assistance that we have been able to provide.”
Earlier in the day, the Israel Defense Forces ordered Rafah residents to evacuate as they were preparing to hit the city with ballistic missiles. “Maximum power.” The air strikes began several hours later.
Netanyahu has threatened to send troops to the city for several months, arguing that it is necessary to ensure that Israel does so “Total victory” On Hamas. Last week, the Israeli Prime Minister said he intends to do so regardless of the ceasefire agreement with the Palestinian movement or international pressure.
“We will fight the monsters of Hamas and destroy them forever.” Netanyahu He saidIn addition to that He added: “Any amount of pressure and any decision from any international forum will not prevent Israel from defending itself.”
Netanyahu declared war on Hamas last October, after the Gaza-based movement carried out a series of deadly raids inside Israeli territory. More than 1,100 Israelis were reportedly killed in the October 7 attack. More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 78,000 wounded in Israeli military operations since then, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.
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