In a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, President Biden reiterated his stance against Israel's potential invasion of Rafah, the Hamas-controlled city in the southern Gaza Strip. This comes amid reports that the United States had frozen an ammunition shipment to deter such an attack.

The conversation between the leaders took place on Holocaust Remembrance Day, a significant day when Israelis pay tribute to the 6 million Jews who lost their lives in the Holocaust during World War II. The President emphasized the importance of avoiding any operations in Rafah that could endanger the safety of the one and a half million people residing there, as stated by White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.

The call between President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu follows the devastating invasion by Hamas terrorists in southern Israel last October, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals, including 33 Americans. In light of this, President Biden and his administration have consistently cautioned Netanyahu about attacking Rafah without a well-developed plan to relocate the Palestinian population in the area.

The White House readout of the call briefly stated that "the president reiterated his clear position on Rafah." Additionally, discussions centered on ongoing efforts to secure a hostage deal, with President Biden updating Prime Minister Netanyahu on the progress of talks taking place in Doha, Qatar. In response, the Prime Minister agreed to keep the Kerem Shalom crossing open for humanitarian aid to reach those in need.

Israel closed the crossing on Sunday after Hamas fired rockets at it, killing three members of the Israel Defense Forces. The crossing is a crucial route for transmitting aid from Israel into the Palestinian enclave. In order to ensure the safety of eastern Rafah's residents, who have fled the conflict in neighboring areas, the Israeli government has been urging them to relocate immediately. According to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, around 200 people have been complying each hour with this recommendation as of Monday.

Hamas leaders announced on Monday their willingness to accept a phased cease-fire deal proposed by Egypt and Qatar. The proposal would involve the release of dozens of civilians, including five US citizens, who were kidnapped from Israel in multiple stages. However, Israel deemed the proposal insufficient, having previously agreed to a US-proposed cease-fire that demanded the release of all hostages in Gaza and around 700 Palestinian inmates from Israeli prisons, including approximately 100 convicted of killing Israelis. Hamas rejected this plan, arguing that Israel should release all 9,000 Palestinian prisoners held for anti-Israel activities.

The relationship between President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu has become increasingly strained as the US president's re-election prospects have faced criticism from key Democratic constituencies, including younger voters, Arab Americans, and Muslim Americans, who oppose the Israeli invasion. On Sunday, Netanyahu rejected international pressure to halt the conflict and vowed that Israel would defend itself if necessary.

As tensions continue to rise, the world watches closely to see if a resolution can be reached to ease the ongoing violence between Israel and Gaza, with hopes that a peaceful outcome can be achieved for the sake of all those affected by the conflict.