"No compromise on Rafah operation": Israeli PM vows to continue fight despite global appeals
Benjamin Netanyahu responded on February 17 to rising appeals from world leaders to avoid a ground operation in Rafah, remarking that doing so would mean «losing the war against Hamas,» as reported by The Times of Israel.
«Those who want to prevent us from operating in Rafah are essentially telling us: 'Lose the war.' I won't let that happen,» he vowed at an evening press conference in Jerusalem. «We won't capitulate to any pressure,» he said.
According to The Times of Israel, Rafah, located on the Gaza-Egypt border, is the final remaining Hamas stronghold in the territory, but it also houses over a million displaced Palestinians sheltering from war.
In the previous discussions, Israel claimed that it would draw up a plan for civilians to evacuate before it enters, and believes it cannot effectively curtail Hamas without taking Rafah.
At least some of the 134 hostages remaining in Gaza are thought to be in the city. Hamas leadership is also believed to be sheltering there, as per The Times of Israel.
Netanyahu said at the press conference that he'd told US President Joe Biden that Israel will fight until «total victory,» and yes, that includes action in Rafah." But the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) operation in Gaza's southernmost city, he stressed, will «obviously» come only after civilians there have an opportunity «to evacuate to safe areas.»
In response to a question from The Times of Israel on whether there had been plans to enter Gaza's
