Instead of launching a full-scale attack on the city of Rafah in the southern part of the enclave, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will stress the necessity of eliminating Hamas militants in Gaza one by one.
John Kirby, the Coordinator of the National Council of US Security for Strategic Communications, stated that Sullivan will travel to Saudi Arabia on Saturday and land in Israel on Sunday. The Times of Israel reported Kirby’s statement.
According to him, during the talks with the Saudis, Sullivan will discuss “bilateral and regional issues, including the war in Gaza and, of course, ongoing efforts to achieve lasting peace and security in the region.”
Kirby says Rafah will be involved in Sullivan‘s talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other high-ranking Israeli officials. Israel has threatened a broad offensive on Rafah, but the United States opposes the operation because of concerns about the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who have fled there to avoid fighting elsewhere in the Gaza Strip.
Sullivan will advocate a more targeted approach against militants. The official will also discuss recent efforts to reach an agreement with Hamas to release sick, elderly, and wounded people held since the militants took hostages in southern Israel on October 7, 2023.
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It will be recalled that for several months the USA insisted that both Hamas and Israel initially agree to a six-week ceasefire, hoping that the pause in hostilities could be extended.
The terms of the deal had been discussed for some time: Hamas was to release dozens of hostages, and Israel was to release Palestinian prisoners. However, the parties argued for months on a number of details without reaching an agreement.
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