Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says the US is the only country that can stop Israel from attacking Rafah, the southern Gaza city where more than a million people are taking refuge, The Independent reported.
Israel has consistently vowed to carry out an offensive in Rafah. US President Joe Biden “reiterated his clear position” on Rafah to Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu in a call on Sunday.
The US has repeatedly said it cannot support a large-scale Israeli military operation in Rafah without seeing a credible plan to keep civilians out of harm’s way.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in the Saudi capital Riyadh earlier, Mr Abbas – whose Palestinian Authority is not present in Gaza, which has been under Hamas rule since 2007 – urged the US to intervene. He added that only a “small strike” on Rafah would force the Palestinian population to flee the Gaza strip. The biggest catastrophe in the Palestinian people’s history would then happen.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has consistently vowed to carry out an offensive in Rafah as a next step in military actions against Hamas. But on Saturday, Israel’s foreign minister said Israel could suspend the incursion if there was a hostage deal.
