Joe Biden believes a major ground offensive by Israeli forces in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip would be a “mistake” and has ordered an Israeli delegation to visit Washington to discuss the issue, his national security adviser said Monday, according to AFP.

Joe BidenPhoto: Evan Vucci/AP/Profimedia

According to Jake Sullivan, the US president told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he was “deeply concerned” about it.

A large-scale military operation against Rafah on the border with Egypt “will lead to more innocent casualties, worsen an already dire humanitarian situation, exacerbate anarchy in Gaza and further isolate Israel” on the international stage, the adviser said.

During the exchange of words between the two leaders on Monday, the American president asked to send an Israeli delegation to the United States to discuss this planned offensive, and the head of the Israeli government agreed, the adviser told a press conference.

The discussion should also include the possibility of “another approach” aimed at hitting Hamas in Rafah without a major ground offensive, he said.

Jake Sullivan said he expects Israel to refrain from launching the Rafah operation until that discussion takes place in Washington.