U.S. President Joe Biden and Jordanian King Abdullah II continue to push for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip while mediators resume efforts today, Tuesday, for a truce agreement between Israel and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) amid an imminent Israeli ground assault in Rafah. Informed sources indicate that senior officials from the U.S., Egypt, Israel, and Qatar are expected to meet in Cairo to work on a three-phase framework that includes the release of hostages and the declaration of a long-term truce. Biden told reporters at the White House yesterday following talks with King Abdullah, "The United States is working on a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas that would lead to an immediate and sustained period of calm in Gaza for at least six weeks." He added that he is working on it "day and night," and that a six-week cessation of hostilities would provide the necessary foundation "to reach something more sustainable."
For his part, King Abdullah emphasized the urgency and severity of the plight of the Palestinians, stating, "The current situation is unbearable for more than a million people who have been displaced to Rafah since the war began." He added, "We cannot stand by and let this situation continue." He asserted, "It is necessary to ceasefire permanently now. This war must end." Palestine TV, the official television channel of the Palestinian Authority, reported that 74 Palestinians were killed in the Israeli operation in Rafah. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the successful mission demonstrated that military pressure must continue in Gaza, disregarding international concerns about plans for the Israeli ground assault on Rafah, where Israel claims that Hamas forces are present.
**American Frustration with Israel**
Biden has shown increasing frustration with Netanyahu for not heeding his advice to make more efforts to reduce civilian casualties and protect them in Gaza. After more than four months of war, 28,340 Palestinians have been killed and 67,984 have been injured due to Israeli attacks, according to Gaza health officials, while much of the densely populated sector has been reduced to rubble. It is believed that thousands more are buried under the debris. Biden urged Israel not to launch a ground assault in Rafah without a plan to protect the Palestinian civilians massed there, many of whom are living in flimsy tents after being displaced multiple times due to bombings and fighting in other parts of Gaza. Netanyahu instructed the army last week to prepare a plan to evacuate civilians to protect them during the ground assault. In response to a question about evacuation plans, a spokesman for the Israeli army said yesterday that it is still unclear how this will be carried out.
The United Nations intensified calls for a ceasefire yesterday and opposed the idea of relocating civilians from Rafah. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told reporters, "We will not be a party to the forced displacement of people. In fact, there is currently no safe place in Gaza." He added, "You cannot return people to areas scattered with unexploded ordnance, let alone with no shelter." EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell mentioned yesterday that the way to reduce civilian casualties is to stop arms supplies to Israel. The United States is the largest foreign arms supplier to Israel, providing military aid worth $3.8 billion annually. The U.S. State Department stated that cutting aid would be "no more impactful than the steps Washington has already taken."
Netanyahu rejected Hamas's latest offer last week for a four-and-a-half-month ceasefire during which all hostages would be released, Israel would withdraw its forces from Gaza, and an agreement to end the war would be reached. Hamas's offer was a response to a previous proposal made by the American and Israeli intelligence chiefs that was delivered to the movement by Qatari and Egyptian mediators. In response to a question about ceasefire talks, Hamas leader Sami Abu Zuhri stated yesterday that the movement "has shown great flexibility in talks to end the aggression and for a prisoner exchange, but the occupation continues to stall and does not respect the efforts being made."
