President Joe Biden revealed that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi initially did not intend to open the Rafah Crossing for aid to enter Gaza, but after speaking with him, he managed to convince him to do so. Meanwhile, concerns are escalating over a anticipated Israeli military operation in the densely populated Rafah, home to hundreds of thousands of displaced individuals.
Biden described Israel’s response in Gaza as exceeding limits, in unprecedented remarks criticizing Israeli behavior. He affirmed that he is working towards achieving a sustainable ceasefire.
In a surprise statement at the White House on Wednesday evening, Biden stated that he exerted strong pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, where “many innocent people, including women and children, are starving and in desperate need,” as he expressed it.
Seemingly mixing up the Egyptian and Mexican presidents, Biden responded to a question at a press conference, “Initially, President Sisi of Mexico did not want to open the crossing to allow humanitarian aid in, but I talked to him and convinced him to open the crossing, as I also spoke with Bibi (Netanyahu) and convinced him to open the Israeli side of the crossing.”
President Biden discussed his ongoing communications since the start of the conflict with officials from Qatar, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, emphasizing his strong push for aid to reach the territory.
He further stated that he has been pressing hard to reach a ceasefire agreement that includes the release of detainees held by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).
Following Washington’s full support for the Israeli war on Gaza and its rejection of a permanent ceasefire, pressure has mounted on the Biden administration, revealing some disagreements in priorities between the White House and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. American statements have shown a shift in tone towards Netanyahu’s government.
Earlier on Thursday, the White House stated that it will not support any Israeli plans for major military operations in Rafah, confirming that negotiations are ongoing for the release of detainees and the achievement of a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
John Kirby, the Strategic Communications Coordinator for the US National Security Council, expressed that parts of Hamas’s response “were highly positive, while others require further work,” indicating ongoing efforts and Washington’s optimism in reaching an agreement.
Kirby emphasized, “Any large-scale military operation in Rafah at this time, under these circumstances, with over a million – and perhaps more than a million and a half – Palestinians seeking refuge and shelter in Rafah without regard for their safety, would be a catastrophe, and we will not support it.”
He stated that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken clarified America’s concerns regarding such operations.
Israeli occupying forces bombarded areas in the border town in southern Gaza, where more than half of the territory’s population sought refuge. Kirby pointed out that Washington has not seen convincing plans that the Israeli army is on the verge of launching a military operation in Rafah.
The destructive Israeli war on Gaza has entered its fifth month, with most of the casualties being children and women, according to Palestinian authorities, resulting in “massive destruction and an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe,” as per the United Nations.
In the latest statistics, the Ministry of Health in Gaza stated on Thursday that at least 27,840 Palestinians have been killed and 67,317 injured in the Israeli aggression on the territory since October 7th.
