Israeli officials recently shared their latest insights on a potential Rafah incursion during a meeting with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. A senior administration official mentioned that the US side posed challenging questions during the discussion.
The official highlighted that ongoing discussions between the two sides will continue, with Israelis taking into account US feedback and concerns as they refine their plans. Both parties are aligned in their objective of dismantling Hamas.
As part of the dialogue, US officials put forth specific requests related to humanitarian aid, which the Israelis have agreed to implement. One such request involved streamlining aid distribution by allowing aid scanned in Cyprus to be directly sent to the Israeli port of Ashdod, bypassing Egypt.
Over 370 pallets of aid were distributed in Gaza today, as reported by the official.
Post-conflict planning for a two-state phase is actively underway, with the US engaging in discussions with various Arab capitals and Israel. The official emphasized that the process is still evolving to determine the specifics of the post-conflict phase, considering the diverse perspectives from Israel and different Arab capitals.
Regarding the US-Saudi deal, the official indicated that the comprehensive package is nearing clarity. However, the resolution of the ongoing conflict in Gaza is essential to create room for this agreement to progress.
