Israeli Prime Minister Announces Plans for Army Attack on Rafah to Eliminate Hamas Battalions

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, has announced plans for his country’s army to attack the city of Rafah in order to eliminate Hamas battalions. He stated that there is no other choice but to attack Rafah to complete all the objectives of the operation, including bringing all the hostages home. Civilians in Rafah will be evacuated prior to the operation, although the timing of the attack has not been disclosed.

The Prime Minister emphasized the necessity of achieving all goals before ending the campaign, reaffirming Israel’s commitment to entering Rafah and eliminating the Hamas battalions to ensure complete victory. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken did not directly comment on Netanyahu’s statement, but instead reiterated the US’s focus on reaching an armistice agreement through negotiations brokered by Egypt and Qatar.

Hamas is considering a 40-day ceasefire and an exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners as part of a new plan proposed during talks in Cairo with US, Egyptian, and Qatari delegations. The international community is concerned about the potential humanitarian disaster that may result from Israel’s military campaign in the Gaza Strip and plans to attack Rafah. While the US continues to support Israel, pressure is mounting for Tel Aviv to exercise restraint in its actions. The situation remains tense as negotiations and discussions continue, with the hope of reaching a peaceful resolution.