Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu withdrew his country from ongoing negotiations on a ceasefire in Egypt and once again promised to attack Rafah.
He says that Hamas has not changed its “ridiculous demand” to “stop the war”. He did not say when he would order his forces to attack Rafah.
He said that hundreds of thousands of displaced people near the border with Egypt will be told to leave the area, but he did not say where to go.
Netanyahu wrote in his Tegram account: “We will fight until absolute victory, and this includes strong action in Rafah…”
Before that, he said that Hamas has no new proposal for ending the war and releasing more than 100 hostages.
Hamas wants the withdrawal of all Israeli forces from Gaza, the cessation of attacks, and control over Gaza and the Mediterranean Sea.
Netanyahu’s office has said that a change in Hamas’ position may lead to progress in the talks.
Netanyahu is under severe pressure due to the extension of the war in Gaza and the civilian casualties.
Richard Peppercorn, the World Health Organization’s representative in Gaza and the West Bank, says that the attack on Rafah will be “a humanitarian disaster beyond imagination and will exacerbate the humanitarian crisis.”
A few days ago, US President Joe Biden expressed opposition to the attack on Rafah.
French President Emmanuel Macron has also expressed his concern on the phone with the Prime Minister of Israel.
German Foreign Minister Annalina Bierbock also said before the meeting with Netanyahu that the people of Rafah have nowhere to go and cannot “stay in the air”.
The Hamas group attacked Israel on October 7, killing 1,140 people according to the authorities. Health officials in Gaza under the control of Hamas say that more than 28,500 people have been killed in Israel’s attacks, the majority of whom are women and children.
The United States, together with Qatar and Egypt, is trying to establish a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, to lead to a long-term peace, and to free the hostages and some Palestinians in return.