U.S. President Joe Biden called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday to convey his concerns about the safety of civilians in Rafah. Biden had previously criticized Israel’s military response in the Gaza Strip as being excessive and expressed growing concern over the rising death toll of civilians. The call also included discussions about efforts to secure the release of remaining hostages held by Hamas. The White House reaffirmed the shared goal of defeating Hamas and ensuring Israel’s long-term security. However, Biden also called for urgent and specific steps to increase the throughput and consistency of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza.

The potential assault on Rafah in the southern part of Gaza has raised alarm among aid agencies, who warn against the catastrophic consequences. Previous military operations in Gaza’s cities prompted civilians to flee south; however, there is no clear place to go this time. The White House stressed that a military operation in Rafah should not proceed without a credible and executable plan to ensure the safety and support of the more than one million people sheltering there.

The call between Biden and Netanyahu marks their first conversation since Biden’s critical comments on Israel’s military response to Hamas, describing it as ‘over the top’. Netanyahu, in an interview, stated that he did not know what Biden meant by those comments. The conflict has already claimed the lives of more than 28,000 Palestinians, with an estimated 70% being women and children under 18. The World Health Organization has commended the Palestinian Health Ministry’s reporting system for casualties, and U.N. agencies frequently refer to its death toll figures.

Hamas militants killed around 1,200 Israelis and took roughly 250 hostages back to Gaza in an attack that triggered the conflict in October.