Relief organizations have issued warnings about a potential attack on Rafah, situated on the border with Egypt. This area now serves as a refuge for approximately half of Gaza’s 2.3 million inhabitants, and any assault could result in significant civilian casualties. Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock described it as a “humanitarian catastrophe.”
During an interview on Sunday, when questioned about the possibility of Israeli forces entering Rafah, Netanyahu responded, “Oh, we’ll go there. We’re not going to leave. You know, I have a red line. You know what the red line is, that October 7 doesn’t happen again. Never happens again.” The PM was referring to the deadly Hamas attack that claimed over 1,160 lives in Israel and sparked the current conflict.
Without explicitly naming them, Netanyahu asserted that he had the silent backing of various Arab leaders to continue the offensive against Hamas. “They understand that, and even agree with it quietly,” he stated. “They understand Hamas is part of the Iranian terror axis.”
Fighting expected to conclude within ‘two months’
International pressure is increasing on Israel to reach a ceasefire agreement.
The exact number of casualties is a matter of debate, with the Gazan health ministry under Hamas control claiming that civilian deaths have surpassed 30,000. U.N. agencies have raised concerns about an impending famine, with initial starvation-related fatalities already documented. This situation prompted the EU to establish a sea route from Cyprus for aid delivery. Despite criticism of Israeli authorities for impeding the distribution of humanitarian aid by land, Netanyahu portrayed the sea convoy as his initiative in the interview and refuted claims of starvation.
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