Israel was hit by an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip on October 7, with Hamas movement's troops infiltrating border areas. On October 8, the Israeli government announced that it had invoked Article 40 of the Basic Law, which means the country was officially in a state of war.

Biden Says Israel's Operation in Rafah Should Not Proceed Without Plan for Civilian Safety

08:43, 16 February 2024

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Earlier, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths warned that the evacuation of refugees from the Gaza-Egypt border town of Rafah, which hosts over one million refugees, to a supposed safe zone is an illusion, as there is no safe place in Gaza amid Israeli attacks.

Sputnik

US President Joe Biden, in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, reiterated that Israel's military operation in the city of Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip should not proceed without a plan for ensuring the safety of civilians, the White House said.

"President Joseph R. Biden spoke today with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel ... The President also raised the situation in Rafah, and reiterated his view that a military operation should not proceed without a credible and executable plan for ensuring the safety of and support for the civilians in Rafah," the release read.

Israel-Palestine Escalation

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Biden and Netanyahu also discussed ongoing negotiations to secure the release of the remaining hostages held by Palestinian movement Hamas, the release said, adding that Biden "reaffirmed his commitment to working tirelessly to support the release of all hostages as soon as possible."

The officials also discussed the situation in the Gaza Strip and "the urgency of ensuring that humanitarian assistance is able to get to Palestinian civilians in desperate need," the White House said.