Jordan's King Heads to Washington for Talks on Israeli Operations in Rafah

On Monday, February 12, U.S. President Joe Biden will host King Abdullah II of Jordan in Washington. The two leaders are expected to discuss ongoing efforts to free Israeli citizens taken hostage by Hamas and the increasing concerns regarding Israeli military operations in Rafah. This is the first meeting between the leaders of the two allied countries since the killing of three American soldiers last month in a drone attack on a U.S. base in Jordan. Biden has held Iranian-backed militants responsible for the deaths of the American soldiers. The meeting between the U.S. president and King Abdullah II comes as he and his aides are trying once again to establish a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war to allow humanitarian aid and supplies to be sent to the region and to extract hostages from the Gaza Strip. A senior U.S. official, who wished to remain unnamed, said on Sunday that after weeks of diplomatic efforts and phone conversations, a framework for an agreement has been reached that could lead to the release of remaining hostages held by Hamas in Gaza in exchange for a cessation of hostilities. This official acknowledged that there are still gaps; however, he refrained from specifying these gaps. He stated that Israeli military pressure on Hamas in Khan Younis over the past few weeks has helped bring the militant group closer to accepting the agreement. He mentioned that Israeli and U.S. leaders also commented on the potential expansion of Israeli military operations into Rafah, with Biden reiterating the United States' opposition to this idea under the 'current circumstances,' while more than a million people have taken refuge there. This was the strongest tone the U.S. president has used so far regarding potential Israeli operations. Last week, Biden described the Israeli military response in Gaza as 'excessive' and stated that he is seeking 'immediate and specific' steps to bolster humanitarian aid. According to this senior U.S. official, the Israelis 'explicitly stated that they would not consider operations in Rafah without protection for civilians.' This official noted that the United States is unsure if there is a practical or feasible plan to evacuate civilians from Rafah to allow military operations to take place in that area. Jordan and other Arab countries have strongly criticized Israeli actions and have refrained from public support for long-term planning regarding their next steps, arguing that the war must end before such discussions can begin. They have called for a ceasefire since late October following a staggering increase in civilian casualties. During his visit to Israel, shortly after the Hamas attack on October 7, Biden intended to visit Jordan as well, but this trip was canceled. On his return from Israel, Biden announced that he had helped mediate the first agreement for a temporary ceasefire and the opening of the Rafah crossing for humanitarian aid. The Israeli army intensified operations in Rafah, raising international concerns about the situation of civilians. The Israeli army began its attack on Rafah, with at least 10 reported dead in the early hours. Israel has intensified its bombing of Rafah amid ongoing international efforts to establish a ceasefire. High casualties among groups known as 'resistance' have been reported; at least 18 senior commanders of groups affiliated with the Islamic Republic have been killed over the past five months. Blinken in Doha: The Islamic Republic supports proxy groups opposed to peace in the region. Washington Post: The drone that killed American soldiers at the 'Tower 22' base was unidentified. In the second stop of his Middle East trip, Antony Blinken went to Egypt. Blinken and the Saudi Crown Prince discussed 'regional coordination' to end the war in Gaza. Verification: The Islamic Republic falsely denies supporting proxy groups in Iraq and Syria. U.S. efforts to prevent the escalation of war in the Middle East; Blinken will visit Israel after the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Blinken visited the 'World Food Program' warehouse in Jordan: The U.S. is focused on the 'very difficult' conditions in Gaza. Biden emphasized his commitment to increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza. The Israeli army announced the release of two Hamas hostages; they were freed during a military operation in Rafah. Live blog: Israeli forces attacked the 'World Central Kitchen' convoy in Gaza; 7 were killed. Biden and Netanyahu discussed their 'shared goal' of defeating Hamas and ensuring the security of refugees in Rafah.