Israel, US remain at odds after second virtual meet on potential IDF op in Rafah

Israel and the United States remain at odds after holding a second virtual meeting regarding a potential IDF ground offensive in Rafah.

The White House readout is nearly identical to the one it issued after the first meeting on April 1, saying that the sides share the objective of seeing Hamas defeated in the southernmost city of Gaza but that the “US participants expressed concerns with various courses of action in Rafah.”

Once again, the White House readout says that Israel agreed to take Washington’s concerns into account and hold a follow-up meeting soon.

Today’s virtual meeting — headed by National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on the US side and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and National Security Council chair Tzachi Hanegbi on the Israeli side — began with a discussion regarding the recent Iranian strike on Israel.

Sullivan reviewed “the collective efforts to further enhance Israel’s defense through advanced capabilities as well as cooperation with a broad coalition of military partners and briefed the Israeli side on new sanctions and other measures that began today, in coordination with Congress and G7 capitals.”