Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been diagnosed with Hernia, in strong remarks on Sunday (Mar 31) made it clear that the pressure put by US is not the reason why Rafah operation has not yet been started. He also refuted claims that Ramadan is the reason why Israel has not entered the city of Rafah. He said that is no “hesitancy” about the operation. “It won’t take a lot of time. Nothing will stop us, not US pressure,” he said.
It is worth noting that US President Joe Biden earlier cautioned Israel that its offensive in Rafah city in southern Gaza is a ‘red line’. However, Biden at the time downplayed his remarks immediately and said, “it is a red line but I’m never going to leave Israel”.
The remarks raised speculations over deteriorating relations between the leaders.
The tension between US and Israel was also visible when Israeli PM was asked about the cancellation of delegation to Washington. Netanyahu said, “I told them, ‘Don’t do it. It will send an extremely grave message to Hamas: They don’t have to release a single hostage, and they can get a ceasefire.”
This came after US allowed UN resolution on Gaza ceasefire to pass. “We will find the way to dialogue on this issue. But I thought it was important to send the message on that very day to the entire international community, and also to Hamas. And that was an important message that I stand behind,” Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu held a press conference on Sunday wherein he said the war cabinet has approved ‘operational plans’ for Rafah. Bibi also asserted that the Israeli defence forces are all geared up to operate in Rafah in a bid to evacuate the civilians as well as to support the distribution of humanitarian aid.
Netanyahu, during the presser before his scheduled surgery at 9 pm local time, said that during his talks with the US President Joe Biden he thanked the solidarity, “but I did not appreciate the decision in the Security Council. I thought it was a deplorable decision, since for the first time it disconnected the ceasefire…and the release of hostages. That’s why I thought I had to send a clear message on this issue.”
Netanyahu says he told Biden that “If we have to, we will fight with our fingernails.”
(With inputs from agencies)
