WASHINGTON: Jordan’s King Abdullah on Monday told US President Joe Biden that a possible Israeli offensive in Rafah would lead to a new massacre of Palestinian civilians.
A statement from the Jordan royal court said after Abdullah had lunch with Biden at the White House he urged the international community to take urgent action against the offensive in the Gaza bordering city.
It said the king of Jordan warned about the repercussions of the Israeli ground offensive on Rafah, which could spread to other regional states.
Israel on Monday conducted airstrikes in Rafah and asked Palestinians to evacuate parts of the city where more than a million people displaced by the seven-month war are taking shelter.
In a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday Biden pressed him not to go ahead with a large-scale military operation in Rafah. The US president has been demanding that Israel must ensure the safety of civilians and must not undertake a ground offensive in Rafah without a plan.
According to the Jordanian statement Abdullah in his meeting with Biden said that the Israeli attack on Rafah threatens to lead to a new massacre.
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It added the king and the US president affirmed their commitment to working together to reach a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza.
The Biden administration and Israeli officials have differences over Israel’s planned military offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
According to the Gaza health ministry over 34,600 Palestinians have been killed mostly women and children in brutal Israeli strikes since October 7. Similarly, more than 78,000 people including women and children have been wounded in Israel’s air strikes.
