According to US officials speaking to CNN, high-level talks between US and Israeli officials regarding potential military operations in Rafah are expected to take place in Washington, DC, possibly as soon as Monday.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled talks that were initially scheduled for this week after the United States declined to block a UN resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of captives held by Hamas.
The Israeli delegation has proposed rescheduling the talks for Monday, but the timing is complicated due to an impending March 31 deadline for the Israeli government to create a new law governing conscription for ultra-Orthodox Jews, who have long been exempt from mandatory military service.
Netanyahu has asked the Israeli top court to postpone the deadline for drafting a new plan, raising uncertainty about whether the delegation will be able to travel to the United States if plans remain unsettled.
US officials have indicated that no final date has been set for the talks.
The White House has expressed support for rescheduling the talks and is collaborating with its counterparts to find a suitable date that works for both sides. Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated on Thursday, “We’re now working with them to find a convenient date that’s obviously going to work for both sides.”
