Netanyahu: "We Must Attack Rafah for Victory... Date Set"

Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, announced that he has scheduled an attack on the southernmost city of Gaza Strip, Rafah, to eradicate Hamas.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 8th (local time), Prime Minister Netanyahu stated in a video message, "To achieve victory, we must enter Rafah and eliminate the terrorist forces." He emphasized, without mentioning a specific date, "This operation will definitely be carried out. We have also set a date." Regarding the ceasefire negotiations held in Cairo, he mentioned, "We are making relentless efforts for the release of hostages, our top priority, and for complete victory."

Notably, Netanyahu's remarks came immediately after Itamar Ben-Gvir, Minister of National Security and a prominent far-right figure within Israel's right-wing coalition, reacted strongly, saying, "If the Prime Minister wants to end the war without a large-scale offensive on Rafah to defeat Hamas, he does not have the authority to continue as Prime Minister," drawing attention.

Currently, the far-right forces within the coalition are criticizing the Israeli military's withdrawal of most ground troops operating in the south the previous day. This is seen as pressure threatening to withdraw coalition support if Netanyahu, succumbing to pressure from the United States and the international community, abandons the ground offensive in Rafah. Bezalel Smotrich, Minister of Finance and another key far-right figure who helped Netanyahu regain power, also opposed the ground troop withdrawal and has demanded the Prime Minister convene a security cabinet meeting.

Rafah, the southernmost city of the Gaza Strip bordering Israel, is considered Hamas's last stronghold where its leadership is believed to be hiding. With an estimated 1.5 million refugees crowded there, a ground battle in Rafah could inevitably result in massive casualties. Earlier, U.S. President Joe Biden indicated to Prime Minister Netanyahu that a large-scale offensive on Rafah would be a "red line" and suggested that U.S. policy toward Israel might change to protect civilians.

Meanwhile, amid concerns of escalation from the Middle East, ceasefire negotiations are expected to continue in Cairo. Earlier, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz appeared on Army Radio and said that negotiations with Hamas regarding the safe return of 133 hostages held in the Gaza Strip had reached a "critical point." However, a Hamas official dismissed any progress in the talks on the same day. The negotiation teams from both sides are reported to meet again in two days.