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A top US general has reportedly laid out an alternative to an IDF ground offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

General Charles Q Brown Jr, the chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, is said to have conveyed the plans during a conversation with General Herzi Halevi, his IDF contemporary.

Washington’s alternative plans reportedly include securing Gaza’s border with Egypt with technology to prevent the smuggling of weapons, isolating Rafah city, targeted raids against Hamas and the establishment of a joint control room to coordinate on the targeted operations, according to Israel’s public broadcaster, Kan.

It comes as Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday during a televised speech that “there is no victory without going into Rafah”.

But in a further development, American news website, Axios, reported early this morning that the US and Israel are expecting to hold a virtual meeting later today to discuss alternative proposals to stop an invasion of Rafah.

The meeting between the two countries would be the first after Mr Netanyahu canceled a planned delegation visit to the US after it abstained in a UN Security Council vote that demanded a ceasefire in Gaza for the rest of Ramadan.

Watch below as Sky News’ military analyst, Sean Bell, explains what the alternative plans could involve if adopted by Israel…