US and Israel to hold new talks on Israeli Rafah invasion plan

Israel still agreed send its military strategists to Washington to discuss its intention to launch a ground operation against Hamas militants in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah.

On Monday, March 25, Israel canceled the trip to protest the US refusal to veto The UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas is reported by the Voice of America.

The United States, Israel's staunchest ally in the nearly six-month war, abstained from the UN vote on this week, after vetoing similar resolutions earlier.

The move angered Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, signaling a growing rift between Washington and the Jewish state over the conduct of the war.

However, despite the cancellation of the trip of Israeli military strategists, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant was in Washington for talks with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Netanyahu said that an attack on Rafah was necessary to deprive Hamas control of the Gaza Strip.

However, the US has told Israel that it opposes the invasion of Rafah, especially after more than a million Palestinian civilians have taken refuge there in temporary tents and structures.

The White House said additional talks with Israeli officials – this is a "good thing" and that the date of their holding is now being discussed.

Prepared by: Sergey Daga