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According to the White House, US President Joe Biden has advised Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, that a military operation in the city of Rafah should only proceed if measures are put in place to protect the safety of civilians. In a phone call between the two leaders, Biden emphasized the need for Israel to have a credible and executable plan to ensure the protection of over a million people in Rafah. Israel is facing increasing international criticism over its planned offensive, with many expressing concerns about the potential harm to civilians. Prime Minister Netanyahu, however, insists that the operation will proceed and that preparations are being made. The call between Biden and Netanyahu comes shortly after Biden remarked that Israel's military operations in Gaza were excessive. The international community has raised alarms over reports that Israeli troops may enter Rafah, which is situated on the border with Egypt and serves as the only point of entry for humanitarian aid. UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron stated that over half of Gaza's population has sought refuge in the city, while Saudi Arabia warned of severe consequences if Rafah is attacked. The United Nations has declared that there is no safe place for the 1.5 million Palestinians in the city, many of whom are living in refugee camps after being displaced multiple times by Israeli military orders. Hamas, the ruling party in Gaza, warned of a multitude of casualties if an operation in Rafah were to ensue, claiming that it would also undermine negotiations for the release of Israeli hostages in the strip. The concerns about escalating conflict in Rafah arose after Prime Minister Netanyahu instructed the military to prepare the evacuation of civilians in preparation for a larger offensive against Hamas. The Israeli operations in Gaza were launched in response to a Hamas attack that killed over 1,200 people in southern Israel on October 7th and took 240 hostages. According to Gaza's health ministry, 112 more Palestinians were killed by the Israeli military in the past day, bringing the total death toll to over 28,100, with more than 67,500 injured. During the call, President Biden reiterated his belief that a military operation in Rafah should not proceed without a feasible plan to guarantee the safety and support of the more than one million people seeking refuge there. He also emphasized the shared goal of defeating Hamas and ensuring Israel's long-term security, while calling for urgent and specific actions to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza's trapped civilians. In an interview, Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that victory was within reach and that the remaining Hamas terrorists in Rafah would be dealt with by the Israeli military, while also promising safe passage for civilians in the city. The US has already cautioned Israel that an invasion of Rafah as part of its Gaza offensive would be disastrous, with the EU and the UN expressing their own concerns. Aid organizations assert that it is not possible to evacuate everyone from the city. UN humanitarian coordinator Jamie McGoldrick, who recently visited Gaza to assess the situation, stated that people in Rafah would have nowhere to go if Israeli troops launched their offensive. He expressed fear about the worsening conditions and the lack of safe areas for displaced residents to seek refuge. The article also mentions that the BBC cannot independently verify many claims made during the course of the conflict in Gaza and invites readers from Rafah to share their thoughts and experiences by contacting the BBC.