19-03-2024, 10:13 PM
Middle East crisis live: no way to eliminate Hamas in Rafah without ground offensive, says Netanyahu
Israeli PM reiterates, he plans to order a ground offensive in the southern Gaza Strip where a huge number of displaced Palestinians are living.
Haaretz is carrying an additional quote from Benjamin Netanyahu’s office about the current state of the relationship between Israel’s prime minister and US president Joe Biden, who spoke on Monday.
It quotes Netanyahu’s office saying:
We have a disagreement with the US regarding the necessity of operating in Rafah, not about the need to destroy Hamas. Out of respect for the president, we agreed on a platform for him to share their ideas, particularly in regards to the humanitarian aspect, and enabling a planned population withdrawal and assistance to civilians. We have been doing this from the start of the war. We can’t say ‘We’ll destroy 80% of Hamas,’ because the remaining 20% will retake the Gaza Strip.
Israeli PM reiterates, he plans to order a ground offensive in the southern Gaza Strip where a huge number of displaced Palestinians are living.
Haaretz is carrying an additional quote from Benjamin Netanyahu’s office about the current state of the relationship between Israel’s prime minister and US president Joe Biden, who spoke on Monday.
It quotes Netanyahu’s office saying:
We have a disagreement with the US regarding the necessity of operating in Rafah, not about the need to destroy Hamas. Out of respect for the president, we agreed on a platform for him to share their ideas, particularly in regards to the humanitarian aspect, and enabling a planned population withdrawal and assistance to civilians. We have been doing this from the start of the war. We can’t say ‘We’ll destroy 80% of Hamas,’ because the remaining 20% will retake the Gaza Strip.