Netanyahu Defies Biden, Pushes for Rafah Invasion: Latest Updates
Watan-In what can be considered a public challenge to the American President and his administration, which has repeatedly declared its rejection of an Israeli military operation in the city of Rafah in southern Gaza Strip before presenting a plan to evacuate the densely populated residents there, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday evening that his government had approved operational plans to invade Rafah.
Netanyahu challenges Biden and insists on invading Rafah
Netanyahu claims that Rafah, “the last stronghold of Hamas,” insists on invading it despite escalating regional and international warnings of catastrophic consequences, with around 1.4 million Palestinians in the city, the majority of whom are displaced.
At a press conference before undergoing surgery on Sunday evening, Netanyahu said, “We have agreed to operational plans to invade Rafah.”
Earlier on Sunday, Netanyahu’s office announced that he would undergo hernia surgery under general anesthesia tonight, and his deputy, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, would temporarily assume his duties.
He claimed that “the information obtained by our fighters in the (Healing Hospital) operation (west of Gaza City) helps us locate the militants.”
🔴رئاسة وزراء الاحتلال: إصابة #نتنياهو بـ”الفتاق” وسيخضع لعملية جراحية الليلة. pic.twitter.com/6wJNi6cRTn
— وطن. يغرد خارج السرب (@watanserb_news) March 31, 2024
For the 15th day, the Israeli army continues its operations in the Healing Medical Complex and its surroundings, leading, according to the Gaza government’s media office, to the killing of more than 400 Palestinians and the destruction and burning of 1,050 homes in the vicinity of the complex.
Netanyahu continued: “We will enter Rafah and eliminate Hamas, and without that, there will be no victory.”
He continued, saying: “The government is working on evacuating the residents before the invasion of Rafah (…) and we will enter the city despite the opposition of US President (Joe) Biden.”
Since the outbreak of the war, the United States has provided Israel with the strongest military, intelligence, and diplomatic support possible, even amidst what appear to be disagreements between Biden and Netanyahu regarding the large number of civilian casualties and Tel Aviv’s restrictions on humanitarian aid entering the sector, as well as Gaza’s future after the war.
Regarding the accusations against him in the case of Israeli prisoners in Gaza, Netanyahu said, “Anyone who says I do not do everything to release the detainees is mistaken and misleading.”
כוחות צה״ל ושב״כ ממשיכים בלחימה ממוקדת במרחב בית החולים שיפאא׳. צוותי הקרב של חטיבה 401, חטיבת הנח”ל וכוחות שייטת 13 בפיקוד אוגדה 162 נלחמים במרחב תוך הימנעות מפגיעה באזרחים, חולים, צוותים רפואיים וציוד רפואי>> pic.twitter.com/QlzV6X2Ogk
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) March 27, 2024
Hamas: Resistance is ready to confront the invasion of Rafah
Hamas leader Osama Hamdan affirmed on Sunday that the Israeli occupation did not offer any commitments in its responses, and its answers were an attempt to procrastinate, stressing that “there is no talk until now about any new round of negotiations.”
Hamdan said in statements to Al-Jazeera: “We want answers regarding the cessation of aggression, the withdrawal from Gaza, the return of the displaced, and the reconstruction of Gaza.”
He added, “We appreciate the efforts of the mediators, but the Israeli occupation is trying to obstruct the negotiations.”
He continued, saying: “If Israeli stubbornness continues, the efforts of the mediators will face a deadlock.” Considering that the occupation only wants to regain its captives and continue the aggression openly.
القيادي في حماس أسامة حمدان للجزيرة: نقدر جهود الوسطاء لكن الجانب الإسرائيلي يحاول عرقلة المفاوضات، وإذا استمر التعنت الإسرائيلي فإن جهود الوسطاء ستواجه طريقا مسدودا#حرب_غزة #الأخبار pic.twitter.com/y8JIm4XN1b
— قناة الجزيرة (@AJArabic) March 31, 2024
He pointed out that the American position still contributes to covering the Israeli stubbornness, expressing Hamas’s rejection of any aggressive move towards the city of Rafah.
Hamdan mentioned that “Hamas” is making efforts to prevent aggression on Rafah, but the resistance is ready to confront. He explained that if the occupation continues its aggression, the resistance is ready to confront it.
He concluded by saying: “What is required is to end the aggression and the occupation, and it is our right to establish a sovereign state with its capital in Jerusalem.”
