Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to launch an attack on the city of Rafah in southern Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have taken refuge from the war that has been going on for almost 7 months.
On the other hand, it seems that ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas are still being pursued.
Netanyahu's comments came hours before US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel to advance ceasefire talks – in what appears to be one of the most serious rounds of negotiations between Israel and Hamas since the war began. The deal was intended to free hostages, provide aid to the community and prevent an Israeli attack on Rafah, as well as potential harm to civilians there.
Speaking to a group of bereaved families and an organization representing the families of hostages held by militants, Netanyahu said Israel would enter Rafah to destroy the Hamas battalion there regardless of whether a ceasefire deal for the hostages was reached or not.
“The idea that we will stop the war before it has achieved all its objectives is impossible,” Netanyahu said, according to a statement from his office, quoted from ArabNewsWednesday (1/5/2024).
“We will enter Rafah and eliminate the Hamas battalions there – with or without a deal, to achieve total victory.”
Netanyahu has faced pressure from his nationalist governing partners not to move forward with a deal that might prevent Israel from invading Rafah, which they say is Hamas' last major stronghold. His government could be threatened if he agrees to the deal as hardline cabinet members demand an attack on Rafah.
But with more than half of Gaza's 2.3 million residents sheltering there, the international community, including Israel's main ally, the US, has warned Israel against any attacks that endanger civilians.
It was not clear whether Netanyahu's comments were intended to appease his governing partners or whether they had any influence on the emerging deal with Hamas.
Netanyahu addressed the Tikva Forum, a small group of hostage families that differed from the main group representing the families of Israeli captives who indicated they would prefer to see Hamas destroyed over the freedom of their loved ones.
Thousands of families and their supporters demonstrate every week in support of a deal that would repatriate the hostages, saying it should take precedence over military action.
The deal currently under discussion, brokered by the US, Egypt and Qatar, would include the release of dozens of hostages in exchange for a six-week halt to fighting as part of an initial phase. Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel will also be released.
But there is still the problem of what will happen next. Hamas has demanded guarantees that the release of all the hostages would end Israel's nearly seven-month assault on Gaza and the withdrawal of its troops from the devastated territory.
Israel only offered an extension of the pause, and promised to resume its attacks after the first phase of the deal was completed. This issue repeatedly hampered the mediator's efforts during months of negotiations.
Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected ending the war in exchange for the release of the hostages, and said the attack on Rafah was crucial to crushing the militants.
The Israel-Hamas war was sparked by an unprecedented attack on October 7 in southern Israel, in which militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapped about 250 hostages. Israel says the militants still hold around 100 people hostage and more than 30 others.
The war in Gaza has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials. The war has forced about 80% of Gaza's population of 2.3 million people to flee their homes, caused major destruction in several cities and towns, and pushed northern Gaza to the brink of famine.
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