Biden urges Netanyahu not to advance into Rafah without a plan to avoid massive civilian casualties

Joe Biden has called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to hold off invading Rafah until a plan is in place that would prevent massive civilian casualties.

Gazans fleeing Israel's bombardment and military advances have sought shelter in Rafah, a city in the south of the Gaza Strip. An estimated 1.4m Palestinians are currently in the region after being displaced by Israel's campaign against Hamas.

The White House released a synopsis of a call between Mr Biden and Mr Netanyahu on Sunday.

Mr Biden reportedly «raffirmed his view that a military operation in Rafah should not proceed without a credible and executable plan for ensuring the safety and support for the more than one million people sheltering there,» according to the White House report.

The request is one of the few instances in which Mr Biden has specifically requested that Israel hold back on its military action in Gaza.

Palestinians check destruction after an Israeli strike in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Saturday, Feb.10, 2024.

The Biden administration made a similar request in November when it asked Israel to avoid «significant further displacement» of Palestinian civilians if it continued its ground campaign in southern Gaza.

At the time, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that the Israelis were receptive to US requests. However, the request did not curb Israeli advancement into the region or prevent further displacement.

Mr Biden has used marginally stronger language in recent weeks when discussing Israel's military action in Gaza; when reporters asked him about hostage negotiations at a recent presser, he called the ongoing campaign «over the top.»

“I’m of the view, as you know, that the conduct of the response in Gaza,