Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the Israeli military has scheduled a date for the invasion of Rafah, emphasizing the importance of capturing the southern city for achieving victory.
Netanyahu, in a video message posted on X (formerly Twitter), expressed that he received a comprehensive report on the talks in Cairo. He emphasized the ongoing efforts towards accomplishing their objectives, which primarily include the release of all the hostages and attaining a decisive victory over Hamas.
“This victory necessitates entering Rafah and eradicating the terrorist battalions present there. It will occur, and there is a designated date,” he emphasized.
Netanyahu has been insisting for weeks that Israeli forces will eventually invade Rafah, despite receiving repeated warnings against such action from President Biden and other White House officials.
Approximately 1.4 million civilians have sought refuge in Rafah after they were instructed by Israel to leave their homes in northern Gaza. The purpose of these evacuations, which were ordered earlier this year, is to enable Israeli forces to locate and apprehend Hamas militants responsible for the deaths of 1,200 individuals on October 7th, as well as the capture of numerous hostages.
Last week, Netanyahu announced that Israel intends to enter Rahah, with or without U.S. support.
In the midst of mounting international pressure, Israel has made an announcement regarding its military operations in Gaza. According to the Associated Press, these operations have resulted in the tragic loss of 33,200 Palestinian lives. This development comes at a time when Israel is facing scrutiny from Western leaders, including those in Washington.
Last week, six workers from the World Central Kitchen and their Palestinian driver tragically lost their lives in an Israeli airstrike. These dedicated individuals had just completed the delivery of approximately 100 tons of food aid and were on their way out of a warehouse in central Gaza. The vehicles they were traveling in were clearly marked with World Central Kitchen logos and were armored for their protection. It is deeply saddening that such a horrific incident occurred despite their efforts to provide aid to those in need.
In the wake of the attack, Biden conveyed his strongest condemnation of Netanyahu, cautioning that U.S. policy concerning the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza would be contingent upon Israel’s prompt actions to alleviate the “unacceptable” humanitarian crisis. This conversation signifies a significant shift in Biden’s stance and that of his team since the eruption of the war in October.
According to The Jerusalem Post, two far-right ministers, Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, expressed their criticism towards Netanyahu regarding the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reducing their presence in Gaza.
According to the Jerusalem Post, Ben-Gvir, the National Security Minister of Israel, stated that if Netanyahu concludes Israel’s conflict with Hamas without launching an offensive on Hamas in Rafah, he will lose the mandate to continue serving as the prime minister.
In a letter on Monday, Smotrich urged Netanyahu to convene Israel’s National Security Cabinet, emphasizing its authority to make policy decisions regarding the war.
