President Biden mentioned on Monday that Israel shouldn’t proceed with a serious floor offensive within the southern Gaza metropolis of Rafah and not using a “credible plan” to guard multiple 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 for the reason that Israel-Hamas struggle began.
“Many individuals there have been displaced — displaced a number of occasions, fleeing the violence to the north, and now they’re packed into Rafah, uncovered and weak,” Mr. Biden mentioned throughout an look with King Abdullah. “They should be protected.”
The go to got here as King Abdullah sought to shore up worldwide help for a direct cease-fire in Gaza that will completely halt the combating.
Mr. Biden has rejected the thought of a basic cease-fire, saying Israel has a proper to defend itself. However he has pushed for a pause within the combating that would permit 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 difficult place because it navigates the fallout from the struggle.
King Abdullah mentioned an Israeli invasion of Rafah was “sure to supply one other humanitarian disaster.”
“The state of affairs is already insufferable for over one million individuals who had been pushed into Rafah for the reason that struggle began,” King Abdullah mentioned. “We can’t stand by and let this proceed. We’d like an enduring cease-fire now. This struggle should finish.”
Mr. Biden issued a forceful condemnation of the hovering demise toll in Gaza, the place well being officers say greater than 28,000 individuals have been killed for the reason that begin of the struggle.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Mr. Biden mentioned of the deaths. “Each harmless life in Gaza is a tragedy.”
Whereas Mr. Biden’s criticism of the struggle has grown extra blunt within the 4 months for the reason that Oct. 7 assault, the US has not signaled that it plans main coverage adjustments, similar to placing situations on army support to Israel.
On Monday, when requested if Israel would face any penalties for the way it goes about its subsequent army marketing campaign, John F. Kirby, a White Home spokesman, mentioned that he was not going to get into “hypotheticals.”
He mentioned that the US was working to affect how Israel carried out its struggle.
“There have been moments and there proceed to be moments the place now we have the chance and have taken the chance to form their pondering and to assist affect the way in which they’ve carried out a few of these operations,” he mentioned. “And that is still at the moment.”
Each Mr. Biden and King Abdullah mentioned the battle ought to finish with a two-state answer.
“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 answer that can assure peace and safety for the Palestinians and Israelis, in addition to your entire area.”
Egypt and Qatar, appearing as intermediaries between Israel and Hamas, have led talks aimed 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 US was engaged on a hostage cope with Israel and Hamas that would deliver at the least a six-week pause that would “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 accordance with a U.S. official who spoke on the situation of anonymity in regards to the discussions.
Whereas Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel publicly dismissed a Hamas proposal final week, Israeli officers have signaled that their authorities continues to be open to negotiation. The mere proven fact that extra talks can be happening in Cairo this week is seen as a optimistic signal.