The Biden administration is engaged in intense negotiations with Israel to prevent a full-scale invasion of Rafah, the last major city in Gaza yet to be targeted by Israeli airstrikes. According to a Washington Post report, the U.S. has offered sensitive intelligence and supplies to Israel on the condition that it scales back its planned invasion of Rafah.
The intelligence provided by the U.S. would enable Israel to better locate Hamas leaders hidden in tunnels around the city, potentially minimizing civilian casualties and avoiding the devastation seen in other parts of Gaza during the conflict. The U.S. is also offering thousands of shelters to establish tent cities and assist in delivering food, medicine, and water to the thousands of refugees expected to flee the city.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to invade Rafah with “extreme force,” but the U.S. is urging Israel to prioritize an evacuation plan before launching its campaign. The U.S. has expressed concerns about Israel’s conduct during the conflict, particularly regarding the potential humanitarian crisis in Rafah.
The U.S. has also been collaborating with Egypt to locate and seal off tunnels between Gaza and Egypt, which Hamas has used to replenish its supplies. An assessment by the Biden administration suggests that Hamas may welcome an extended and bloody conflict in Rafah, hoping to further isolate Israel internationally.
Although it is uncertain if Israel has heeded the U.S. warnings, private discussions between officials have reportedly resulted in assurances from Israel that it will not launch a full-scale invasion of Rafah without evacuating approximately 800,000 civilians. As of Sunday, the U.N. reported that around 300,000 people had evacuated Rafah in the previous week.
A U.S. official emphasized that the U.S. is not withholding information on the locations of Hamas leaders and has been assisting Israel in targeting them.
