ALBAWABA - Sources told Axios that deep divides between the U.S. and Israel over Israel's planned operation in Rafah were evident between Israeli and US officials following a meeting regarding the planned invasion.
The US and Israel held a virtual meeting earlier this week, with White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken leading the US side.
Israel was represented by Netanyahu's confidants, Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, and national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi. Several more defense, policy, and intelligence officials from both sides attended.
The majority of the meeting focused on ways to evacuate more than 1 million Palestinians from Gaza's southern cities. The Biden administration expressed fear that a hasty and disorderly evacuation might end in a humanitarian catastrophe.
According to three sources who attended the discussion, the Israeli side provided general concepts for civilian evacuation, which might take at least four weeks, and possibly longer, to accomplish depending on the circumstances on the ground.
According to reports, US officials informed Israelis that the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, which has worsened over the previous five months, does not give them confidence in Israel's capacity to perform an efficient and orderly evacuation of residents from Rafah.
Al-Aqsa Flood operation against Israel
Hamas military group announced on Oct. 7 a military operation called "Al-Aqsa Flood" against Israel which is the biggest offensive in decades.
Palestinian fighters “infiltrated” Israel from the Gaza Strip and captured military bases and took hostages as photos and videos went viral online showing Hamas fighters on vehicles inside Israel and others paragliding into occupation territory.
In response, Israeli armed forces announced targeting Hamas positions inside the Gaza Strip. Thousands were killed, and dozens of thousands of others were injured in the Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.
The latest statistics by the Ministry of Health in Gaza revealed that the death toll from Israeli brutal pounding on the Gaza Strip since October 7 has soared to 32,916+ people, with more than 75,494+ injuries.
Since then, approximately 85% of Gazans have been displaced, all of whom are suffering from severe food insecurity, and the healthcare system has collapsed. Hundreds of thousands of people lack shelter, and aid trucks are entering the area at a lower rate than before the conflict began.
