Israeli officials to decide on Rafah plan, US says it hasn't yet seen it. Live updates

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel is in sync with the U.S. about its plan to invade Rafah, the densely populated city in southern Gaza, but President Joe Biden has not yet seen a viable plan for the imminent operation, a top White House official said on Sunday.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the White House has not yet seen the Israeli plan to evacuate the more than 1 million people packed near the Egyptian border.

“We’ve been clear that we do not believe that a major military operation should proceed in Rafah unless there’s a clear and executable plan to protect those civilians, to get them to safety and to feed, clothe and house them,” Sullivan said during an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “And we have not seen a plan like that.”

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that his government and U.S. officials agree that a plan for Rafah must include a mass evacuation. The prime minister said such a plan will go before the Israeli War Cabinet early next week.

“We’re on the same page with the U.S. on this, because that’s how we do it,” he said on CBS’s “Face the Nation.” Netanyahu said he would be shown a “dual plan” in a meeting with his general staff on Sunday. He did not directly address Sullivan’s earlier comments or say whether Israel would show the plan to U.S officials before it heads to the War Cabinet.

Netanyahu maintains the invasion is necessary to complete its objective of destroying Hamas. A temporary cease-fire deal being negotiated indirectly has made progress in recent days but Netanyahu said, even if an agreement is reached, it would only delay the invasion of Rafah.

“If we have a deal, it’ll be delayed somewhat but it’ll happen,” Netanyahu said. “If we don’t have a deal, we’ll do it anyway. It has to be done, because total victory is our goal, and total victory is within reach. Not months away, [but] weeks away once we begin the operation.”

Humanitarian aid organizations, including U.N. groups, have warned that military operations in the densely populated city would be devastating.

Fog covers buildings and tents set up by displaced Palestinians in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Feb. 25, 2024, amid continuing battles between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Developments:

∎ Since the start of the war, more than 29,600 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have died, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which is run by Hamas. The Health Ministry does not differentiate between combatant and civilian deaths.

∎ The Israeli military on Sunday announced it had “concluded” its operations in Nasser Hospital, where it arrested 200 suspected militants and “found boxes of sealed medicine with the names of Israeli hostages in addition to large quantities of weapons.” For days leading up to the invasion, Israeli forces encircled Nasser Hospital, the largest health care facility in southern Gaza. Doctors and health officials said Israeli snipers shot people who were trying to flee the area and multiple patients died when a power outage cut off their oxygen supply.

∎ The Health Ministry in a statement Sunday described the conditions in northern Gaza as “catastrophic,” saying a lack of fuel has forced several hospitals to cease operations. The statement said, “Dialysis and intensive care patients are at risk of death as a result of the lack of fuel for the generator, ambulances and medicines” and that “dozens of cars for ambulances, civil defense and medical services are out of service.”

People walk in front of the Al-Faruk mosque, levelled by Israeli bombardment in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Feb. 25, 2024, amid continuing battles between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Progress made on temporary cease-fire deal

Representatives from the U.S., Egypt and Qatar have made progress on a diplomatic agreement for a temporary cease-fire and the release of hostages in Gaza, according to statements from top Israeli officials and Israeli media reports.

Mediators met in Paris over the weekend to reach a deal after negotiations appeared to break down earlier this month when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vehemently opposed Hamas’ demands for Israel to pull its forces out of Gaza and release thousands of Palestinians from Israeli prisons in exchange for the hostages.

On Sunday, the Israeli War Cabinet met to discuss a deal proposed in Paris that would secure the release of the dozens of remaining hostages. Officials estimate there are more than 100 captives in Gaza. While there’s been no official word on any decisions, several Israeli media outlets, citing unnamed officials, said negotiators would travel to Doha to continue discussions.

On Sunday, Netanyahu said Israel and the mediators are “all working on” a deal.

“I want it because we want to liberate the remaining hostages,” he said. “And I appreciate the effort, the combined effort of Israel, the United States, to bring back the remaining hostages. I can’t tell you if we’ll have it. But if Hamas goes down from its delusional claims … then we’ll have the progress that we all want.”

Top Israeli officials have said if no agreement is reached the military will invade the city of Rafah on March 10, the start of Ramadan. More than 1 million people, most of whom have fled from other areas of the territory, are crowded in overflowing shelters and sprawling tent encampments as food, water and medicine continue to trickle into the war-torn enclave.

Contributing: Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Israeli officials to decide on Rafah plan, US says it hasn’t yet seen it. Live updates