Israel intends to broaden its military operation in Rafah, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has told a senior aide to US President Joe Biden, who has warned against major action in the southern Gazan city that may risk mass civilian casualties, Reuters reports.

After weeks of public disagreements with Washington over the Rafah planning, Israel on May 6 ordered Palestinian civilians to evacuate parts of the city and began troop and tank incursions.

“We are committed to broadening the ground operation in Rafah to the end of dismantling Hamas and recovering the hostages,” a statement from Gallant’s office quoted him as telling visiting US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.

There was no immediate US comment on the Gallant talks.

The statement from Gallant’s office said he “presented to (National Security) Adviser Sullivan the provisions Israel implemented for evacuating the population from the Rafah area and for setting up the appropriate humanitarian response”.