Despite repeated calls from its allies its allies to not invade Rafah, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says it is only a matter of time before military operations begin in the city.
He insists the offensive is necessary to deal a final blow to the terrorists hiding there.
“Today I received a detailed report on the talks in Cairo, we are constantly working to achieve our goals, first and foremost the release of all our hostages and achieving a complete victory over Hamas. This victory requires entry into Rafah and the elimination of the terrorist battalions there. It will happen – there is a date,” he insists.
His comments follow negotiations in Egypt over a ceasefire deal with Hamas. Prisoner-hostage swap discussions are also on the table. However, senior Hamas officials say Israel has failed to meet any of its demands but talks continue.
CIA Director, William Burns is part of the mediating team in Cairo talks underscoring strong pressure from the US on both parties to reach a deal. Israel’s main ally has insisted Netanyahu must abort his plans for Rafah.
On Monday, Egypt, France, and Jordan issued a joint statement signed by its leaders echoing calls warning Israel against any planned offensive – which would have severe consequences that could snowball into a wider conflict.”The war in Gaza and the catastrophic humanitarian suffering it is causing must end now,” the three leaders said.
The war began after Hamas fighters attacked southern Israel on October 7, killing around 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages.Israel’s response has resulted in over 33,000 deaths, most of them children. According to Oxfam in January, Israel’s military is killing Palestinians at an average rate of 250 people per day which exceeds the daily death toll of any other major conflict.
