The Biden administration, assist businesses and different world leaders have urged Netanyahu to name off his plans to invade the southern Gaza metropolis, which had a inhabitants of roughly 280,000, earlier than the conflict however is now house to greater than 1.4 million individuals who have fled south to keep away from Israel’s navy offensive.
German Overseas Minister Annalena Baerbock warned that an Israeli offensive on Rafah could be a “humanitarian disaster within the making.”
“The folks in Gaza can not disappear into skinny air,” she posted on X.
Nationwide Safety Council spokesperson John Kirby beforehand warned the U.S. wouldn’t help Israel’s assault on the area, saying {that a} navy operation could be a “catastrophe” for civilians there. In an
interview with NPR, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield mentioned {that a} navy operation within the metropolis “can not proceed” beneath present circumstances.
Biden has been comparatively unwavering in his help for Israel, and has a longstanding relationship with Netanyhu, who has been prime minister on and off because the Nineties. However final week he criticized Israel’s response to the lethal Oct. 7 assault by Hamas as “excessive.”
Netanyahu
has pushed again on the criticism, saying that an Israeli victory over Hamas is “inside attain.”
“Those that say that on no account ought to we enter Rafah are mainly saying lose the conflict, maintain Hamas there,” he mentioned throughout an interview that aired Sunday on ABC’s “This Week.”
