US-Israel Rafah in-person meeting remains unscheduled

The United States and Israel are still trying to reschedule an in-person meeting previously canceled by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss Israel's intended military operations in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

The Biden administration does not support full-scale Israeli operations in Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians have fled during the war, and has asked to see Israel's plans for safeguarding those civilians should it carry out full-scale operations. U.S. and international leaders have warned that without proper preparation, it could incur scores of civilian casualties.

U.S. officials have sought to persuade their Israeli counterparts not to invade Rafah in various conversations but have wanted to meet in person to further the conversation.

Netanyahu's top advisers, national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi and Minster for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, were supposed to travel to Washington, D.C. , in late March for the meeting, but Netanyahu canceled their travel on March 25 after the U.S. abstained from what it believed to be an unfavorable United Nations Security Council resolution, ultimately allowing it to pass.

Following the delayed meetings, Israeli and U.S. officials sought to reschedule it but have yet to finalize a date. In the meantime, they've met virtually to conduct these conversations.

"Our team continues to work on the follow-ups from the first meeting, and we are still working to schedule the follow-up," a U.S. National Security Council spokesperson told the Washington Examiner. "As you know, the meeting is attended by senior leaders, and finding a time that works for everyone can be challenging — but the work continues."

Israeli leaders have argued they need to carry out a full-scale ground operation in Rafah to defeat the four remaining Hamas battalions that are in the city, surrounded by and under the civilians who have fled there. U.S. officials disagree and believe there's another way to accomplish the same goals.

"I don't have a date for you. We're still trying to get that nailed down. As I said earlier, we'd like to continue those conversations," National Security Council coordinator John Kirby told reporters on Monday. "We expect — hope in coming days to be able to have yet another round of discussions with them about what their intentions are with respect to Rafah, but the focus, rightly, right now is on what Iran just did."

It's unclear how this weekend's unprecedented Iranian aerial assault against Israel could affect its plans in Gaza. Iran fired more than 300 drones and missiles at Israel on Saturday night and into Sunday morning in what was a historic attack, given its origin within Iran's borders.

Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, the IDF chief of staff, said on Monday that Iran’s attack “will be met with a response,” while IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said Israel will do “all that is necessary” to defend itself and “will do that at the time we choose.”

A U.S. administration official told the Washington Examiner that Israel "has also been consumed with Iran-related issues for the past week" in response to questions about the Rafah meeting.

The U.S. was among a number of countries that helped Israel intercept nearly every munition Iran fired. In the aftermath of the attack, the U.S. has publicly urged Iran to show restraint, given Israel's ability to combat its attack and the limited damage and casualties caused by it.

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"We don't want a war with Iran," Kirby said on CNN on Monday. "We don't seek to widen and broaden this conflict. We don't want to see things escalate. As a matter of fact, what we want to do is see things de-escalate. And defending Israel the way we helped do on Saturday should have that effect."

Only one person is known to have been hurt in Iran's assault: a 7-year-old girl who lives in southern Israel.