– It's not something we want to do while residents are detained there. In fact, we will do the opposite, we will give them the opportunity to leave the region, says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israel long ago announced a ground offensive on Rafah, where some 1.5 million Palestinians now reside, the vast majority of whom are internally displaced people living in makeshift tents.
Netanyahu insists that a ground invasion is necessary to achieve the goal of “complete victory” over Hamas.
– No amount of international pressure will prevent us from implementing all the goals of the war. To achieve these goals, we will also work in Rafah, Netanyahu says.
He stated this after a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Schulz says that any Israeli attack on Rafah will make peace very difficult.
Rafah is the last city in the Gaza Strip that was not attacked by the Israeli army during the war between Israel and Hamas.
Article continues below adArticle continues below ad
Challenging international pressures
Netanyahu has recently faced strong international pressure. US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer believes that Netanyahu represents a major obstacle to peace.
– Schumer said in a speech in the Senate on Thursday that Netanyahu often gave in to the demands of extremists.
The Democratic senator also believes that Israel should hold new elections. This was completely rejected by Netanyahu.
– I believe that the only thing our government should be concerned with now is working to overthrow the terrorist tyranny in Gaza, the tyranny of Hamas, which killed more than a thousand Israelis.
President Joe Biden supported Schumer's statements.
He will not accept a “weak” peace agreement.
When asked about a possible peace agreement, the Israeli Prime Minister replied that they would not accept an agreement that weakens Israel.
– A potential peace agreement that weakens Israel and hinders its ability to defend the country will send the possibility of peace backwards, not forwards.
Netanyahu stressed that it is unacceptable to have a weak peace agreement, at the same time he said that Israel must bear the necessary security responsibility in Gaza.
“Coffee trailblazer. Certified pop culture lover. Infuriatingly humble gamer.”
