The US wants to block the military invasion prepared by Israel for Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians are sheltering

The United States and Israel are set to hold a virtual meeting on Monday to discuss the Biden administration’s alternative proposals to an Israeli military invasion of Rafah, Axios reported Sunday, citing four Israeli and American officials.

The meeting, which was supposed to take place last week, has become a contentious topic between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Biden.

The whole picture

After last week the US failed to veto a UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages, Netanyahu announced he was canceling the meeting in protest.

A day later, he sent discreet messages to the White House, asking for a rescheduling. After the White House made public Netanyahu’s request, he denied that such a delegation would go to the White House.

The Biden administration said an operation in Rafah, home to more than a million Palestinians, could lead to mass casualties and exacerbate the humanitarian disaster in Gaza.

Netanyahu’s closest confidant, Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, has told Netanyahu several times in recent days that he must send the delegation to Washington as soon as possible to avoid a further escalation of tensions with Biden.

Senior Israeli officials said holding a virtual meeting was a way for Netanyahu to “save face” and have a discussion with the White House about Rafah without sending a delegation to Washington.

The current situation

The meeting will take place through a secure video conference, Israeli and American officials told Axios.

White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan is expected to lead the US side of the meeting, which will be attended by representatives of the Pentagon, State Department and US intelligence agencies.

Dermer and Netanyahu’s national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, will lead the talks on the Israeli side, with the participation of senior Israeli defense and intelligence officials.

A senior Israeli official said a second, in-person meeting was planned to take place as early as next week.