Israel-Hamas conflict: Increased death toll prompts US to urge Israel to halt offencive in Rafah – Expert
Israeli air strikes have already started hitting Rafah leaving at least 74 people dead.
A smoke plume erupts during Israeli bombardment over Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on 11 February 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Picture: SAID KHATIB / AFP
CAPE TOWN - An expert on middle east conflict says the increased death toll in occupied Palestine is what prompted the United States (US) to urge Israel to halt its planned offensive on Rafah.
This comes after Israel announced plans to expand its ground assault into the city of Rafah, where over one million Palestinians have sought refuge from the Israeli offensive.
Israeli air strikes have already started hitting Rafah leaving at least 74 people dead.
The city is in the south of the Gaza strip near the Egyptian border.
Professor Yossi Mekelberg - who is an associate fellow for the middle east and north Africa programme at Chatham House - says Biden's plea to Israel is no surprise.
"I think most of us agree that the death toll right now is way too high and it has been like this for months now, and the big fear is what happens is Israel embarks on a military offense in Rafah."
Mekelberg says there is now growing pressure on the US and Biden to ensure that civilians in Rafah are safe.