Biden-Netanyahu call: Israeli team to visit Washington

US President Joe Biden warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday that an Israeli military operation in Rafah would escalate anarchy in Gaza, and the two leaders agreed that a team from Israel would visit Washington to discuss the situation, the White House said.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters that the two countries' teams will hold comprehensive talks on further steps in Gaza, where a humanitarian crisis is under way.

The meeting could be held this week or next, said Mr. Sullivan, adding that no operations will be undertaken in Rafah ahead of the talks.

“Anarchia reigns in areas Israeli Army has cleared, but has not stabilised” in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis will deepen if Israel continues with the offensive in Rafah, said Mr. Sullivan, summing up Mr. Biden's message to Prime Minister Netanyah.

Mr Sullivan said President Biden had rejected again Monday the argument that raising questions about the possible operation in Rafah is the same as raising questions about the need to defeat Hamas.

Our position is that Hamas should not be allowed to take refuge in Rafah or anywhere else, but a large ground operation there would be wrong. This would cause more deaths among innocent civilians, exacerbate the humanitarian crisis, deepen anarchy in Gaza and further isolate Israel”, Mr Sullivan said.

He said the Israeli delegation's visit would create the possibility for “of a comprehensive, integrated and strategic discussion...”

Relations between the two leaders have become increasingly strained because of Gaza.

Mr Sullivan said that during the conversation, President Biden had not warned of any restrictions on American aid to Israel.

Mr. Biden told Mr. Netanyahu that he must have a consistent strategy for Gaza, said adviser Sullivan, not enter Rafah.

President Beden reaffirmed US support for Israeli efforts to destroy Hamas militants who attacked Israel on 7 October.

Mr Sullivan also confirmed that Marwan Issa, the number three person in Hamas' command, was killed during an Israeli operation last week. Hamas has not commented on this announcement.

The call between the two leaders was the first since February 15th and comes amid sharp tensions between Israel and its most staunch ally over the Gaza war.

Zoit Netanjahu said that during the conversation Israel's commitment to achieving all war goals -- the elimination of Hamas, the release of all hostages and the assurance that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel.

This will be done “providing the necessary humanitarian assistance that helps achieve those goals,” he said in a statement.

In a speech Thursday, the majority Democrat leader in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, a longtime Israeli supporter and the most elected Jewish official in the US, called for new elections in Israel and said Mr. Netanyahu is an obstacle to peace.

The following day, Mr. Biden praised the speech and said Senator Schumer had echoed many American concerns.

Prime Minister Netanyahu responded sharply Sunday, saying in an interview for CNN that Mr. Schumer's speech was “legally inappropriate”.

He reaffirmed at a cabinet meeting Sunday that Israeli forces would be introduced to Rafah, the last relatively safe country in Gaza, despite international pressure for Israel to avoid further civilian casualties. / VOA