Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to launch an Israeli ground offensive against Rafah, which is now filled with hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees who fled Israeli attacks elsewhere in the Gaza Strip.
The US, Germany and other Israeli allies are urging restraint rather than warning against a direct attack on the city, which lies on the border with Egypt.
Kirby, speaking to reporters in Washington on Thursday, declined to comment on the exact content of the talks or identify the participants, saying he would provide details after the meetings were over.
"The main objective is really to talk about Rafah... and also share our ongoing concerns over a major ground attack there," he said.
A meeting with an Israeli delegation was planned this week to discuss the concerns of the US side.
Ahead of the major Iranian airstrike on Israel over the weekend, Netanyahu had announced last week that an attack on Rafah had already been scheduled.
However, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant refuted Netanyahu's comments moments later.
sha/
The US, Germany and other Israeli allies are urging restraint rather than warning against a direct attack on the city, which lies on the border with Egypt.
Kirby, speaking to reporters in Washington on Thursday, declined to comment on the exact content of the talks or identify the participants, saying he would provide details after the meetings were over.
"The main objective is really to talk about Rafah... and also share our ongoing concerns over a major ground attack there," he said.
A meeting with an Israeli delegation was planned this week to discuss the concerns of the US side.
Ahead of the major Iranian airstrike on Israel over the weekend, Netanyahu had announced last week that an attack on Rafah had already been scheduled.
However, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant refuted Netanyahu's comments moments later.
sha/
