Netanyahu opposes Biden on the assault in Rafah

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the US warning and remains steadfast in his decision to proceed with a major ground offensive against Hamas militants in southern Gaza. Despite President Joe Biden’s urging to cancel the plans, Netanyahu emphasized the necessity of eliminating Hamas militarily and stated that it cannot be achieved without targeting the remaining battalions.

The White House has cautioned against such an operation, highlighting the potential for increased civilian casualties, exacerbation of the humanitarian crisis, and further isolation of Israel on the international stage.

Biden, who initially called for a credible plan to prevent civilian casualties, has now taken a tougher stance against Netanyahu, aligning himself with US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s criticism of the Israeli Prime Minister as an obstacle to peace in the region.

On October 7, the war broke out as Hamas launched surprise attacks on Israeli villages in the south, resulting in the deaths of over 1,100 individuals and the capture of numerous hostages taken back to Gaza.

Since then, the Palestinian enclave has been under siege, with local authorities reporting a staggering death toll of more than 31,000 people and approximately 1.5 million Gazans enduring starvation and overcrowding in Rafah due to Israeli airstrikes that devastated their neighborhoods. In response to the dire situation, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) recently announced their plan to relocate displaced civilians to “humanitarian islands” north of Rafah, providing them with temporary shelter, food, and water.

This plan was approved by Prime Minister Netanyahu. However, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed concerns, stating that a clear and feasible strategy to protect civilians in Rafah has not been presented.

He further highlighted the alarming fact that the entire population of Gaza is currently experiencing severe levels of acute food insecurity, marking the first time an entire population has faced such a classification.

Netanyahu, on the other hand, asserted that Israeli forces have already dismantled 18 out of the 24 Hamas battalions in Gaza, with the remaining four concentrated in Rafah. He emphasized the importance of eliminating these units and conveyed this message to President Biden, emphasizing that ground operations are necessary to achieve this goal.