Today: 1 June 2025
1 April 2024
2 mins read

US, Israel Virtual Meet Today on Rafah Operations

The US side had informed Israel for such a meeting as the latter has publicly said that it was prepared for an all-out attack on Rafah….reports Asian Lite News

The US and Israel will hold a virtual meeting of senior officials regarding the Rafah operations.

The meeting will be held later on Monday.

The US side is likely to be led by Brett McGurk, the Special envoy of the US President in charge of Middle East, while the Mossad Chief David Barnea, Shin Bet head Ronen Bar and other senior officials.

According to Israel Defence Ministry sources, the US side had informed Israel for such a meeting as the latter has publicly said that it was prepared for an all-out attack on Rafah.

The US, it may be recalled has been totally opposed to such a ground invasion in Rafah region, which is the southernmost tip of Gaza Strip and densely populated.

An estimated 1.3 million people are in the Rafah area that include a large number of people displaced from north and central Gaza since the war commenced on October 7, 2023.

The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had recently met the Middle eastern leaders during his visit to Cairo and Riyadh .

In the meeting, the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has clearly told Blinken to prevent any ground invasion by Israel in Rafah area sharing its borders with Egypt.

Egypt has also informed Blinken that once the incursion begins there would be an unprecedented flow of people from Rafah into the Egyptian area and that would lead to major issues.

However, the Israeli side led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Defence Minister Yoav Gallant are pushing for a ground invasion into Rafah to defeat Hamas and release the hostages.

The Israeli intelligence, including Mossad, Shin Bet and military intelligence have provided inputs to the Israel war cabinet that the Hamas is almost defeated militarily and that it has only four battalions remaining in the Rafah region.

The Intelligence agencies have also reported that a final push was imminent to give a crushing defeat to Hamas militarily and that this would pave the way for a proper negotiation in the release of the hostages.

With the US and the Israel diametrically opposite on the issue of military invasion into Rafah, it has to be seen how smooth the virtual meeting would be.

ALSO READ: White House declares April as Arab-American Heritage Month

Previous Story

Justin Welby says he will not block Justin Welby

Next Story

Pope calls for ceasefire in Gaza, Ukraine  

Latest from -Top News

UAE aid for Gaza in global focus

Titled Hope Remains, the documentary brings to light the UAE’s leading role in providing vital aid and support to the people of Gaza. The International Humanitarian and Philanthropic Council has released a

Syria, Israel begin quiet talks

The announcement came just hours after Israeli warplanes reportedly carried out new airstrikes in Syria’s coastal provinces of Tartus and Latakia, hitting a range of military targets. Syria has confirmed the commencement

Gaza truce deal hits new snag

US says Hamas’ reply to the ceasefire plan was “totally unacceptable” and accused the Palestinian group of dragging the negotiations backward. The latest attempt to broker a ceasefire in Gaza has hit

IAEA flags Iran enrichment spike

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in two separate but related reports, said Iran has boosted its uranium stockpile enriched up to 60% purity by nearly 50% since February. Iran has vehemently

World needs Dubai’s ambition: Morgan

Piers Morgan has hailed Dubai’s transformation as an example of what visionary leadership can achieve. British broadcaster Piers Morgan has praised the extraordinary ambition and vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Israel Defense Minister Announces Operation to Eliminate Hamas Units at Rafah Border

He said that the fire power and force displayed by

NY attorney general subpoenas Trump family in fraud probe

The filing came to light after the Washington Post reported