An American official said that his country is studying with Israel the necessity of developing a “possible and credible” plan to attack Rafah, while the French president expressed strong opposition to Israel attacking the city crowded with displaced people.
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan did not express a firm position on the announced Israeli attack on the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, at a time when Western officials expressed strong opposition to this operation, which threatens the lives of thousands of civilians.
Sullivan said in a press conference at the White House on Wednesday that his country does not want Israel to attack the city of Rafah without a “credible and feasible” plan.
He pointed out that American officials are conducting a close dialogue with their Israeli counterparts on this issue.
Sullivan reiterated his country's support for "Israel's right to defend itself."
He added that "a large number of civilians were killed in Gaza," and that Washington expresses its concerns to the Israeli side in every meeting in this regard.
"It cannot be accepted"
On the other hand, a statement published by the Elysee Palace (French Presidency) on Wednesday stated that President Emmanuel Macron held a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in which he discussed the situation in the Gaza Strip.
The statement stressed that the humanitarian situation and the number of martyrs in Gaza “cannot be accepted,” and stated that Macron informed Netanyahu of his “strong opposition to Israel’s plan to attack Rafah.”
The statement stressed that such an attack would lead to a humanitarian catastrophe, and that the forced displacement of residents violates international humanitarian law.
He pointed out that Macron stressed the need to deliver urgent, “large-scale” humanitarian aid to the residents of Gaza, noting that all of this may lead to increased tension in the region.
The statement called for the opening of all crossings leading to Gaza and a direct land route from Jordan.
According to the statement, Macron expressed his aspiration to avoid all steps that might lead to increased tension in Jerusalem and the West Bank.
Macron also condemned Israel's settlement policy, calling for the removal of illegal "Jewish settlements" in the West Bank, and an end to the violence practiced by Jewish settlers against Palestinian civilians.
On Sunday, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority (official) said that the Israeli occupation army had approved an operational plan to launch a ground operation in Rafah, which is the last refuge for the displaced in the stricken sector.
The Israeli announcement was met with international warnings and calls not to undertake the operation because it would have “catastrophic” consequences for about 1,400,000 Palestinians, most of whom were displaced from other areas in the Gaza Strip, for whom Rafah represented their last refuge.
The devastating war launched by Israel on the Gaza Strip since October 7 has left tens of thousands of civilian victims, most of them children and women, in addition to an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe and massive destruction of infrastructure.
Israel agrees to operate Starlink satellite Internet in parts of Gaza
Israel granted Starlink approval to operate satellite internet service in Israel and parts of the Gaza Strip, including a hospital run by the UAE in Rafah, south of the Strip. An Israeli minister explained that the units present in the Strip for humanitarian purposes will depend on Israeli security statements.
Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Qarai announced on Wednesday that approval had been given to operate satellite Internet service from Starlink, owned by Elon Musk, in Israel and parts of the Gaza Strip.
Under the agreement, Starlink will support Internet access in a field hospital run by the UAE in the city of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip.
It is noteworthy that the United Nations estimated last week that only 13 hospitals out of 36 are fully operational in the Gaza Strip, amid ongoing Israeli targeting and siege of hospitals in the Strip.
Last October, Musk proposed making satellite Internet available to relief organizations in Gaza, after United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations reported losing contact with their teams due to communications outages.
At the time, Qarai objected to the proposal, claiming that Hamas would benefit from Internet service.
After Musk's visit to Israel, Qarai announced that his country had reached a preliminary understanding regarding the use of "Starlink."
The Israeli minister said on Wednesday that “the units present in the Gaza Strip for humanitarian assistance purposes” will depend on Israeli security statements.
Since last October 7, Israel has been waging a devastating war on the Gaza Strip, leaving tens of thousands of civilian casualties, most of them children and women, in addition to an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe and massive destruction of infrastructure.
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