White House: We do not support Israel launching a ground offensive in Rafah

White House National Security Communications Advisor Kirby evaluated the U.S. position regarding a potential Israeli ground offensive in Rafah during his daily press briefing.

Kirby stated that they are aware of reports that Israel is preparing for a ground offensive in Rafah regardless of whether a ceasefire is reached with Hamas, but noted that he cannot speak on behalf of the Israeli military and that this decision belongs to Israel.

Kirby said, "As we have been consistent about all along, and as the President reiterated consistently in his conversation with (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) this morning, we do not support a ground offensive in Rafah. Such an offensive would put the lives of civilians there at great risk."

"WOULD PUT THE LIVES OF MANY CIVILIANS AT RISK"

Explaining that they have clearly expressed their concerns regarding Rafah to the Israeli side many times, Kirby emphasized that a ground operation targeting this area, where more than 1.5 million Palestinian civilians have taken refuge, would put the lives of many civilians at risk and that they do not want to see this happen.

U.S. President Joe Biden, who held a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the morning, had once again expressed his "clear view that Israel should not attack Rafah" under current conditions.

The Israeli military, in a statement made in the morning, had requested the evacuation of certain neighborhoods in the east of Rafah, where forcibly displaced Palestinians have taken refuge.

According to reports from Israeli Army Radio, approximately 100 thousand Palestinians were residing in the area in eastern Rafah that was ordered to be evacuated.

Forced migration has begun in the eastern part of the region due to concerns that the Israeli military will also launch a ground offensive in Rafah.

The area that the Israeli military has requested to be evacuated also includes the Rafah border crossing on the Egyptian border, which is the main entry point for humanitarian aid into Gaza and the only crossing point used by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip to travel abroad for medical treatment and various other purposes.

News Source: AA