US And Israeli Officials To Hold Second Meeting On IDF Rafah Operation

Axios reporting that US and Israeli officials will today hold a virtual meeting about a potential IDF operation in Rafah - the second such meeting in recent weeks.

• Axios notes that US officials, “flatly denied reports that Biden administration gave a green-light for an operation in Rafah if Israel declines to strike Iran in retaliation for last weekend's unprecedented attack.”
• Qatari outlet New Arab reported today that, "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu managed to obtain American approval for a military operation in Rafah, in exchange for [Israel] refraining from carrying out a wide military operation against Iran in response to its recent attack."
• The meeting comes as US-Israeli tensions over the humanitarian consequences of a Rafah operation have receded in light of increased humanitarian provisions into Gaza and a more general drawdown of Israeli troops in the Strip which has reduced active conflict zones.
• A US official told Axios: "The Israelis haven't reached all the goals set by the president yet, but there is big improvement," referring to the ‘ultimatum’ President Biden delivered to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on April 3.
• Axios reports: “A U.S. official said the plans presented by the IDF in the working groups included a gradual, slow operation in specific neighborhoods of Rafah that will be evacuated in advance — rather than an all-out invasion of the entire city.”