Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday that Israel will be moving forward with a planned attack on the city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip, despite pleas from the United States and other countries concerned for the 1 million civilians sheltering there. Netanyahu stated that a victory against the militant group Hamas, which attacked Israel in October, “requires entry into Rafah and the elimination of the terrorist battalions there.” He emphasized that this attack will happen, as there is a set date for it to occur.
Netanyahu has maintained for months that attacks in Rafah, a city in the southern Gaza strip, are necessary to eliminate Hamas and win the ongoing six-month war. However, Western allies have warned against attacking the city, which holds more than 1 million civilian refugees who have been driven from their homes. The announcement of the planned attack comes after backlash from far-right supporters following Israel’s withdrawal of most troops from southern Gaza on Sunday. Security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir warned Netanyahu that if he did not launch a “large-scale offensive” in Rafah, he would not have a mandate to continue as prime minister.
The United States has been increasing pressure on Netanyahu to not authorize a major military strike in Rafah. President Joe Biden recently stated that such an action would be a mistake and emphasized the importance of protecting civilians and aid workers in the region. Biden stressed the need for measurable steps to ease civilian harm and humanitarian suffering, warning Netanyahu that continued U.S. support for the war in Gaza would depend on how well Israel worked towards these goals. About two-thirds of Gaza’s population were sheltering in the region as of two weeks ago with no safe way to evacuate, according to Deepmala Mahl of CARE International, who warned of a potential terrible loss of life if Israel’s military invades.
Netanyahu’s announcement comes on the six-month anniversary of an attack on Israel by Hamas, which resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 Israelis and the taking of 253 hostages on October 7th. Israel responded to the attack twenty days later with military operations in Gaza that have reportedly killed over 33,000 people, leading to the displacement of more than 2.3 million residents. The majority sought shelter in Rafah, where a potential attack has drawn criticism from foreign governments and international organizations. Countries in the European Union, with the exception of Hungary, have warned against what they see as a catastrophic offensive plan in Rafah.
Negotiations in Cairo will be key to watch as Israel’s foreign minister Israel Katz stated that the country is at a critical point in discussions with Hamas regarding the safe return of 133 hostages still held in Gaza by the militant group. Katz expressed cautious optimism about the negotiations but emphasized the challenges when dealing with Hamas. Netanyahu’s statement also referenced the ongoing talks in Cairo, highlighting the importance of achieving the release of all hostages and achieving a complete victory over Hamas through diplomatic efforts. The situation remains tense as Israel prepares for a potential military operation in Rafah, despite international concerns and warnings about the devastating consequences for civilians.
