White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel on Sunday to discuss military operations in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.

The White House says that "the two sides discussed methods to ensure the defeat of Hamas while minimizing harm to civilians."

Sullivan reportedly reiterated the longstanding position of President Joe Biden on Rafah.

He is believed to have again emphasized the US position opposing a massive ground offensive in Rafah that would likely cause civilian casualties. He apparently urged Israel to only target senior Hamas members.

Israeli forces are continuing attacks against Hamas in Rafah where many people are sheltering. Israel is poised to send additional troops to the area to step up its assaults.

Biden has warned that Washington will hold off providing ammunition and other weapons if Israel goes ahead with ground operations in Rafah.

The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, says around 800,000 people have been forced to flee Rafah, and that the evacuees do not have safe water supplies.

The agency warns that any further escalation in the fighting will only wreak more havoc on civilians.