Israel has briefed Biden administration officials on a plan to evacuate Palestinian civilians ahead of a potential operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah aimed at rooting out Hamas militants. The U.S. officials familiar with the talks revealed that the plan did not change the administration's view that moving forward with an operation in Rafah would put innocent Palestinian civilians at risk.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to carry out a military operation in Rafah despite warnings from President Joe Biden and other western officials about the potential for increased civilian deaths and worsening the humanitarian crisis. The Biden administration has cautioned Israel about the consequences of proceeding with the operation without a credible plan to safeguard civilians.
