US says Israeli gov't has not presented plan for Rafah in case of operation

By Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US on Monday said that the Israeli government has not presented a humanitarian or military plan for a potential assault on the Gaza city of Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have sought refuge from a months-long military offensive.

“We have said what we need to see to be able to support a Rafah operation. That is a credible and implementable humanitarian assistance plan,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.

“The Government of Israel has said that they will implement a humanitarian assistance plan,” he said. “We haven't seen such a plan yet.”

Miller said that the US' judgement is that Israel “cannot or should not go into Rafah without a humanitarian assistance plan that is credible and that they can actually implement.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said that he intends to move forward with an invasion of the city of Rafah on the southern border of the Gaza Strip one day after President Joe Biden warned that and assault on Rafah would cross a "red line."

Ahead of Ramadan, negotiators have reportedly been working on a deal for both a cease-fire and a release of hostages.

Asked about a possible truce during Ramadan, Miller said the US continues to believe that “an agreement to achieve a ceasefire and secure the release of hostages is important.”