US softens objections to looming Israeli offensive in Rafah

WASHINGTON — The White House says Israel needs a “credible plan” to protect Rafah’s civilians before launching its offensive there, days after saying the planned Israeli push into Gaza’s crowded border city could spell a humanitarian “disaster.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said dislodging Palestinian militant group Hamas will require the Israeli military to conduct a “massive operation” in Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza where an estimated 1.4 million people — more than half the territory’s population — are seeking shelter after four months of war.

Netanyahu said Friday he ordered the military to draw up plans for evacuating civilians from Rafah, where the United Nations and international aid groups have warned an Israeli ground offensive would unleash an unmitigated humanitarian disaster. 

Last week, White House described Israel’s anticipated offensive as a potential “disaster” for civilians seeking refuge in Rafah, with spokesperson John Kirby saying the operation is “not something that we would support” unless there was “full consideration of protecting civilians at that scale in Gaza.”