Israeli PM Netanyahu says Rafah attack will happen regardless of deal
Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu has said his country will launch an invasion of Rafah regardless of truce talks with Hamas.
More than 1 million civilians are sheltering in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. The US and its allies have repeatedly warned against an invasion of Rafah due to fears of a high level of civilian deaths. The US has called on Israel to ensure civilians will be properly protected.
The prime minister’s comments come amid attempts to reach a ceasefire and a deal to see the hostages released.
But at a meeting of hostages’ relatives, Netanyahu said he would invade “with or without” a deal.
In a phone call with Netanyahu on Sunday, US President Joe Biden “reiterated his clear position” on Rafah, a White House statement said. Biden has previously described an invasion of Rafah as a “red line”.
More than half of Gaza’s 2.5m population is in Rafah, having fled there to escape fighting in other parts of the territory. Conditions in the overcrowded city are dire, and displaced people there have spoken of a lack of food, water and medication.
The West Bank-based Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Monday that an invasion of Rafah would be the “biggest catastrophe in the Palestinian people’s history”.
