Biden speaks with Netanyahu as Israeli invasion of Rafah appears imminent

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: ABC News

May 6, 2024, 12:17 PM


President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday and "reiterated his clear position on Rafah," according to the White House.

The two men spoke as a major Israeli military operation in the southern Gaza city appears imminent, despite opposition from the United States and other nations due to concerns over the humanitarian crisis in the region.

Israel Defense Forces on Monday urged 100,000 people in the southern Gaza city to evacuate and dropped flyers warning of danger. More than 1.4 million Palestinians are thought to be sheltering in Rafah in the wake of Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip.

Biden once again "reiterated his clear position on Rafah" during his call with Netanyahu, according to a brief readout of the call provided by the White House.

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/biden-netanyahu-speak-israeli-invasion-rafah-appears-imminent/story?id=109953634

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Link to White House READOUT - Readout of President Joe Biden’s Call with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel

[maxsolomon]

1. Looks like this conversation may be superseded by a ceasefire deal.

Fingers crossed.

[Eliot Rosewater]

2. Crossing all fingers and toes....

[wnylib]

3. Israel is determined to destroy the Hamas stronghold

underneath Rafah. It is a major source of smuggling weapons and supplies to Hamas. It will be the final blow to Hamas that prevents them from rebuilding their strength. That is why Hamas now seems more willing to agree to a ceasefire. Leaving the underground network at Rafah intact would allow Hamas to make it the center of operations for rebuilding.

NPR is reporting that Biden advised Netanyahu that Israel has to take measures to minimize civilian casualties in Rafah.

[maxsolomon]

4. Israel sent out an evac order this morning.

There really needs to be a ceasefire now.

[wnylib]

5. I'm not convinced that there should be a ceasefire now.

After all the fighting and loss of life, a ceasefire sounds like relief. But a ceasefire now would leave Hamas in a very good position to rebuild and continue with future attacks. Hamas's ability to use its underground networks has to be completely destroyed. That means taking out the undergroundd smuggling and communications network at Rafah.

Hamas cannot be allowed to be part of an independent Palestiniann state, but that is what Hamas is angling for in its offer to accept a ceasefire.





.

[maxsolomon]

6. Well, we disagree.

A ceasefire can bring home hostages and stop a famine. It's worth it.

It isn't an agreement for a permanent armistice.

[wnylib]

7. If a temporary ceasefire can achieve the release of the hostages who

are still alive, then I could agree with it. It would also allow relief aid to reach Palestinian civilians, IF Hamas does not hijack that aid for themselves.

But eventually, the underground system at Rafah has to go in order to completely destroy the Hamas underground network.