Israel has agreed to listen to US concerns and thoughts before launching an invasion of the Gaza border town of Rafah, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said on Sunday.
The Israeli army is ready to evacuate Palestinian civilians from Rafah and attack Hamas strongholds there, a senior Israeli defense official said on Wednesday, despite international warnings of a humanitarian catastrophe.
Washington has said it cannot support a Rafah operation without an appropriate and credible humanitarian plan.
“They have assured us that they will not enter Rafah until we have had a chance to really share our perspectives and concerns with them,” Kirby told ABC.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit the region next week and Kirby said he would continue to push for a temporary ceasefire that Washington wants to last at least six weeks.
A Hamas delegation will visit Cairo on Monday for talks aimed at securing a ceasefire, a Hamas official told Reuters.
“What we hope is that after six weeks of a temporary ceasefire, maybe we can achieve something more lasting,” said Kirby, who also noted that the number of aid trucks heading into northern Gaza had begun to increase.
“The Israelis have begun to fulfill the commitments that (US) President (Joe) Biden asked them to fulfill,” he said.
Earlier this month, Biden told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to protect Palestinian civilians and foreign aid workers in Gaza or Washington could curb support for Israel in its war against Hamas operatives.
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