May 6, 2024 - Politics & Policy

Biden speaks to Netanyahu as Rafah invasion looms

Barak Ravid

Smoke in Rafah — Smoke billows after an Israeli bombardment in Rafah on Monday. Photo: -/AFP via Getty Images

President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on the phone for 30 minutes Monday, discussing hostage deal negotiations and Israel's preparations for a ground invasion of Rafah, U.S. and Israeli officials said.

Why it matters: Biden is seeking to salvage the long-stalled Israel-Hamas hostage deal and avoid a massive Israeli military operation in Rafah, where more than one million Palestinians are taking shelter.

Driving the news: Ahead of a possible ground invasion, Israel on Monday started to evacuate Palestinian civilians from the eastern parts of Rafah close to the Israel border, the Israel Defense Forces said.

The decision to begin evacuating Palestinian civilians was taken after talks between the Hamas delegation and Egyptian and Qatari mediators in Cairo ended with no breakthrough.
The White House said Netanyahu agreed to reopen the Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and Gaza, which was shut down on Sunday after a Hamas attack on a nearby IDF outpost killed four soldiers.
Kerem Shalom is the main crossing between Israel and Gaza for aid trucks.

This story has been updated with new details from the call.

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Biden speaks to Netanyahu as Rafah invasion looms

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