Jake Sullivan's visit comes as the United States continues to pressure Israel to refrain from a major military invasion of Rafah.
Jake Sullivan plans to travel to Saudi Arabia and Israel this weekend, US officials said. [Anna Moneymaker/Getty-archive]
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan will visit Saudi Arabia and Israel this weekend, the US says, as Israeli tanks move deep into eastern Rafah, raising fears of more civilian deaths. Officials announced this on Tuesday.
Further details about his trip were not available.
The visit comes as the United States continues to press Israel to refrain from a major military invasion of the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where more than a million people have fled.
The Biden administration and the Israeli government will not “significantly expand” any operations in the refugee-filled city ahead of Sullivan's visit, news website Axios reported Tuesday, citing a senior U.S. official. He has come to this realization.
U.S. and Israeli officials were scheduled to have additional face-to-face talks regarding Rafah, but weeks passed without a new date set.
Israel's international allies and aid groups have repeatedly warned against a large-scale ground invasion of Rafah, which is crowded with refugees.
“We clearly intend to continue our dialogue with the Israeli government,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at a briefing.
“These conversations are ongoing and constructive,” he said, noting that Sullivan said this week that he expected in-person conversations to occur soon.
(Reuters)
