The White House said on Thursday that Washington has not yet seen any plan from the Israeli occupation regarding the protection of civilians before any major military operation in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.

The White House added that Tel Aviv has the right to defend itself and pursue Hamas leaders, but it must protect aid workers and civilians.

Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier confirmed his rejection of international pressure to prevent movement in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip.

Netanyahu said on Thursday: “I will continue to resist pressure and we will enter Rafah to eliminate Hamas.”

Meanwhile, the Washington Post reported on a senior American official saying that what is happening in Gaza is chaos created by the Israeli occupation, which bears responsibility for the mass starvation.