By Jerald Jimenez
May 6, 2024, 12:00 PM EDT
President Joe Biden had a new conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this Monday, after Israeli forces warned citizens in Rafah that they should evacuate the area in the event of a possible attack.
According to an anonymous source obtained by ABC News, the conversation was expected to focus on his stance on Rafah, and a call for restraint over the possible invasion of the enclave, which is home to more than 1 million refugees in Gaza. .
The dialogue between both allies occurs after this Monday Israeli planes began dropping leaflets in the east of Rafah. The leaflets, written in Arabic, warned thousands of refugees in the city about the imminent danger of a possible Israeli operation.
These leaflets also included instructions for an evacuation, providing information about the humanitarian area near Al-Mawasi. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have made clear the intention to operate against terrorist organizations in the area where they are located.
Likewise, appeals to citizens in eastern Rafah were conveyed through leaflets, SMS messages, phone calls, as well as Arabic-language media broadcasts.
Israeli forces have expanded a humanitarian area around Al-Mawasi, a coastal town, to accommodate the increasing levels of aid flowing into the Gaza Strip. This aid includes new field hospitals and additional supplies of food and water.
Last week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel would call for an evacuation of civilians before beginning its planned invasion of the southern Gaza city. At the moment, Israeli officials have not yet detailed a timeline for the expected operation.
The IDF has stated that it will continue to pursue Hamas everywhere in Gaza until all the hostages it is holding can be released.
With information from ABC News