WASHINGTON (AP) American and Israeli officials are holding virtual talks Monday to discuss the potential expansion of Israels war against Hamas to the southern Gaza city of Rafah, a move the U.S. opposes on humanitarian grounds.

A U.S. official confirmed the officials would meet by secure video conference on Monday, a week after planned in-person talks were nixed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when the U.S. didnt veto a U.N. resolution that called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the matter, said the U.S. anticipates that expert teams will follow up on the talks in person.

President Joe Biden and his administration have publicly and privately urged Israel for months to refrain from a large-scale incursion into Rafah where more than 1.3 million civilians are estimated to have fled from other parts of Gaza without a credible plan to relocate and safeguard noncombatants.