Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant was headed to Washington for talks with Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin as the United States has also voiced concerns about its ally’s actions.

According to AFP, Gallant said his focus in the United States — which provides Israel with billions of dollars in military aid a year — would include “our ability to obtain platforms and munitions”.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who leads a coalition including ultra-nationalist parties, has vowed to go ahead with a Rafah invasion even without Washington’s support.

US Vice President Kamala Harris stressed on ABC TV that a Rafah invasion would be “a huge mistake” and, when asked whether she would rule out “consequences” for Israel, replied that “I am ruling out nothing”.