A top US general has presented Washington’s alternative to Israel’s military offensive in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza where more than one million people have taken refuge after fleeing from other parts of the Strip due to the Israel-Hamas war.
Israel has signalled its intention to attack Rafah and destroy four battalions in the southern Gaza city. But, the US and other Western countries have expressed their concerns over the aftermath of the assault, including casualties.
General Charles Q Brown Jr, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, called for the securing of Gaza’s border with Egypt to prevent the smuggling of weapons, isolation of Rafah and the launch of targeted raids, and the establishment of a joint control room to coordinate the targeted operations.
The proposed plan also includes smooth and unhindered humanitarian assistance in Rafah and civilians can safely leave the area.
The US would not accept mass civilian casualties in Rafah, given the high civilian deaths in north and central Gaza. This proposal came into the limelight after Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant visited Washington last week.
Earlier, a visit by a senior Israeli delegation to Washington to discuss an alternative to the proposed Rafah offensive was cancelled by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the US abstained from a UN Security Council vote on a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
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