Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reaffirmed his commitment to launching a ground assault on Rafah in southern Gaza, despite ongoing truce negotiations aimed at reaching a ceasefire.
On Tuesday, Netanyahu stated that Israel would destroy Hamas’ battalions in Rafah “with or without a deal” in order to achieve “total victory” in the nearly seven-month-long war.
Israel and Hamas are currently engaged in talks about a potential ceasefire and an exchange of hostages held by Palestinian groups in Gaza for prisoners in Israeli jails. However, Netanyahu made it clear that halting the war before achieving its objectives is “out of the question.”
“We will enter Rafah and eliminate Hamas’ battalions there – with or without a deal, to achieve total victory,” the prime minister said during a meeting with the families of hostages held by armed groups in Gaza.
Hamas, for its part, has maintained that it will not agree to a ceasefire unless it includes the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza — a key point of contention in the ongoing negotiations.
Despite facing pushback from the United States, Israel’s primary ally, Netanyahu has consistently vowed to proceed with the invasion of Rafah.