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Source: The Cradle
Netanyahu vows to invade Rafah ‘with or without‘ truce deal
Religious settler ministers have vowed to bring down the prime minister‘s governing coalition if Rafah invasion is not ordered
April 30, 2024
A Palestinian man warms under his makeshift tent at a camp for displaced people in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip where most civilians have taken refuge amid the Israel-Hamas war, on December 13, 2023. (Photo credit: Mahmud Hams / AFP)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on 30 April to launch a ground invasion into the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where more than a million displaced Palestinians are sheltering from months of brutal Israeli bombing and as ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas are reportedly intensifying.
Netanyahu‘s comments came hours before US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel to participate in talks meant to reach a ceasefire and prisoner exchange.
Netanyahu said Israel would enter Rafah to destroy Hamas‘ battalions there regardless of whether a “truce-for-hostages” deal was struck or not.
It is unclear if Netanyahu‘s comments are meant to put pressure on Hamas to cave to Israeli demands for a deal or to sabotage a deal altogether.
Hamas has long demanded a permanent end to the war, a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, the return of hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians to their homes in the north of the enclave, and the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
Israeli negotiators have demanded the return of some 130 captives held by Hamas in Gaza (as many as 30 are believed dead as a result of Israeli bombing) in exchange only for a temporary six-week ceasefire that would allow Israel to continue prosecuting the war moving forward.
“The idea that we will stop the war before achieving all of its goals is out of the question,” Netanyahu said. “We will enter Rafah and we will eliminate Hamas‘ battalions there — with or without a deal, to achieve the total victory.”
Netanyahu‘s comments may be meant to sabotage a ceasefire deal, thereby appeasing the religious settler ministers he depends upon to keep his governing coalition intact.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir have both insisted that Netanyahu prioritize continuing the war, which has killed over 34,000 Palestinians, the majority women and children, over winning the release of the Israeli captives in Gaza.
Earlier this week, Smotrich called for the “complete destruction” of Gaza while criticizing truce talks between the government and Hamas.
Writing on X, Smotrich said negotiating with Hamas was irresponsible and that Israel‘s intelligence service should assassinate members of the group instead.
“The time has come for the Mossad to return to doing what it was trained to do – to eliminate the heads of Hamas all over the world and not in negotiations that are conducted irresponsibly and harm Israel‘s security,” he said.
“With Hamas, from now on, we should only talk with shells and bombs.”
He said Israel should launch an attack on Rafah “as fast and as strongly as possible, and then continue with the strip until its complete destruction.”
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