Israeli media reported on Sunday that the Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Charles Brown, recently proposed an alternative to launching an attack on Rafah to his Israeli counterpart, Herzi Halevi. The proposal includes securing the Gaza-Egypt border using technological means to prevent arms smuggling and isolating the city of Rafah in southern Gaza, according to the "Times of Israel."
The U.S. proposal to Israel also involves conducting precise airstrikes on Rafah and creating a joint control room to coordinate operations. Brown assured Halevi that Washington "will not accept" large numbers of civilian casualties in Rafah in the event of a ground incursion, especially after the deaths of thousands of civilians in northern and central Gaza.
**Cutting Off Smuggling Routes**
Earlier this month, a senior U.S. official revealed that the U.S. would propose during an upcoming U.S.-Israel meeting this week to enhance security along the border between Egypt and Gaza as an alternative to this incursion. He explained that "establishing a new arrangement with Cairo and building the necessary infrastructure to cut off the smuggling route between the Gaza Strip and Egyptian territory would be more important and effective in dismantling Hamas than launching a large ground attack in the city crowded with displaced persons."
He added, "If Israel storms Rafah, the resulting civilian casualties will make cooperation with Egypt regarding the Philadelphia corridor much harder." The U.S. has been attempting for weeks to dissuade Israel from entering Rafah by land and has recently urged it to consider alternative plans, which could include a limited invasion of some areas, provided there are safe havens for displaced civilians.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu affirmed that he would proceed with this operation, with or without Washington's approval.
**The Last Stronghold of Hamas**
Israel claims that Rafah is the last major stronghold of Hamas fighters, while Washington states that any ground assault there would be a "mistake" and would cause significant harm to civilians. More than one million Palestinian refugees are concentrated in this border city with Egypt, facing dire humanitarian conditions amid shortages of food and medical supplies, prompting the United Nations and many relief organizations to warn against an invasion.
