Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Tuesday that Israel would deploy troops to Rafah, regardless of whether an agreement is reached with Hamas on a ceasefire and the release of hostages. The city of Rafah, located at Gaza’s southern border with Egypt, is currently home to approximately 1.4 million Palestinians who have sought refuge in the northern parts of the enclave. Israel has been conducting airstrikes in Rafah since October, targeting what it claims are Hamas facilities, and Netanyahu has been considering a ground invasion despite objections from the US and UN.
Netanyahu emphasized that the war would not cease until all of its objectives were met, stating that Israel would enter Rafah to dismantle Hamas’ forces, with or without a deal, in order to secure a complete victory. Foreign Minister Israel Katz had previously indicated that the controversial operation could be halted if Hamas agreed to release some of the Israeli hostages still held in Gaza.
While Hamas was reviewing an Israeli proposal for a temporary ceasefire to facilitate a hostage exchange, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken praised the terms as generous and urged the militants to make a prompt decision. Netanyahu’s stance on entering Rafah regardless of negotiations could impact Hamas’ response, as the group has insisted on a permanent ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal as part of any truce agreement.
Netanyahu’s coalition partners with hardline stances have insisted that the prime minister proceed with the Rafah operation, as stated by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Smotrich emphasized that any form of compromise would be viewed as a dishonorable surrender for Israel. In a speech, Smotrich also advocated for seeking the complete destruction of Israel’s adversaries, as reported by Israeli media.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir asserted on Tuesday that Netanyahu had assured him of Israel’s entry into Rafah, ensuring that the war would continue without any hasty agreements. Netanyahu’s commitment to pressing forward with the operation was reiterated by Ben-Gvir, emphasizing the importance of not halting the military action.
