Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday promised to launch a military operation into the southern Gaza city of Rafah, saying Israel would enter Rafah to destroy Hamas’ battalions there “with or without a deal.” This comes as both warring sides are negotiating a ceasefire agreement meant to free hostages and bring some relief to the Palestinians in the besieged enclave.
“The idea that we will stop the war before achieving all of its goals is out of the questions. We will enter Rafah and we will eliminate Hamas’ battalions there — with a deal or without a deal, to achieve the total victory,” Netanyahu said in a meeting with families of hostages held by militants in Gaza, according to a statement from his office.
Truce proposal
A top Israeli official said the government will wait until Wednesday night for a Hamas response to a Gaza truce proposal before deciding whether to send envoys to Cairo for ceasefire talks. “Israel will make a decision once Hamas provides their answer,” the official told the news agency AFP on condition of anonymity, adding that “we will wait for answers until Wednesday night and then decide”.
The Israeli PM has vowed to achieve “total victory” in the war and has faced pressure from his nationalist governing partners to launch an offensive in Rafah, which Israel says is Hamas’ last major stronghold. Netanyahu’s pledge comes even as the international community, including Israel’s top ally, the US, has raised an alarm over the the fate of civilians in Rafah if Israel invades.
Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected stopping the war in return for hostage releases, and says an offensive on Rafah is crucial to destroying the militants after their Oct. 7 attacks on Israel triggered the conflict. The decision to enter Rafah comes amid Israeli concerns that the International Criminal Court may issue arrest warrants for government officials related to the conduct of its war against Hamas.
ICC Probe
The war was sparked by Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7 into southern Israel, which killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli authorities, who say another 250 people were taken hostage. Hamas and other groups are holding about 130 people, including the remains of about 30, Israeli authorities say. Israel’s retaliatory assault on Hamas has killed more than 34,000 people, according to health authorities in Gaza.
The ICC is investigating Hamas’ Oct. 7 cross-border attack and Israel’s devastating military assault on Hamas-ruled Gaza, now in its seventh month. Foreign Minister Israel Katz on Sunday warned Israeli embassies to bolster their security because of the risk of a “wave of severe antisemitism”. “We expect the court (ICC) to refrain from issuing arrest warrants against senior Israeli political and security officials,” Katz said.
“We will not bow our heads or be deterred and will continue to fight.” Netanyahu said on Friday that any ICC decisions would not affect Israel’s actions but would set a dangerous precedent. Israeli officials are worried that the court could issue arrest warrants against Netanyahu and other top officials for alleged violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza, Israeli media have reported. They said the ICC is also considering arrest warrants for leaders from Hamas.
Biden-Netanyahu Call
On Sunday, The White House said US President Joe Biden had again spoken with Netanyahu as pressure builds on Israel and Hamas to reach a deal that would free some Israeli hostages. The White House said that Biden reiterated his “clear position” as Israel plans to invade Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah despite global concern for more than 1 million Palestinians sheltering there.
The US opposes the invasion on humanitarian grounds, straining relations between the allies. Israel is among the countries US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit as he returns to the Middle East on Monday. Biden also stressed that progress in delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza be “sustained and enhanced,” according to the statement. The call lasted just under an hour, and they agreed the onus remains on Hamas to accept the latest offer in negotiations, according to a US official.
(With agency inputs)
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