Israel – The Hebrew Broadcasting Authority (official) said, on Monday, that an Israeli delegation will arrive in Washington next week to continue discussions regarding an expected Israeli military operation in the city of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip.
Israel insists on invading Rafah (on the border with Egypt), despite increasing international warnings of catastrophic repercussions, in light of the presence of regarding 1.4 million displaced people there, and claiming that it is “the last stronghold of the Palestinian faction movement.”
The broadcasting authority said, “Discussions regarding the ground incursion into Rafah are continuing between the American administration and Israeli officials.”
She added, “An Israeli delegation is supposed to arrive in Washington next week, and may include Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and National Security Council Chairman Tzachi Hanegbi.”
As of 10:00 GMT, no official American statement was available regarding the Israeli delegation’s visit.
Last week, a virtual meeting was held between two Israeli and American delegations, amid disagreements between the two sides, according to Israeli media.
The broadcasting authority said on Monday, “There is a belief among all parties that any activity related to Rafah will not begin until the talks with the Americans end.”
She explained that “the ground operation in Rafah relates to the extent of progress in the negotiations (indirect between Israel and Hamas) regarding the exchange deal and the return of the abductees.”
The commission noted that the main controversy between Israel and the United States regarding this operation “centers on the time required to evacuate the residents of Rafah” before the start of the military operation, within the ongoing war since October 7, 2023.
Despite American military and political support for Israel, there are disagreements between the two countries regarding the huge number of civilian casualties in Gaza, the restriction of humanitarian aid into the Strip, and the future of Gaza following the war.
The devastating Israeli war on Gaza left more than one hundred thousand dead and wounded, most of them children and women, and massive destruction and famine that claimed the lives of children and the elderly, according to Palestinian and UN data.
Israel continues the war despite the issuance of an immediate ceasefire resolution by the Security Council, as well as despite its first appearance before the International Court of Justice on charges of committing “genocide.”
Anatolia
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2024-04-09 07:41:42
