ISRAEL'S invasion of refugee-filled Rafah is imminent if a ceasefire is not reached, the country's defense minister warned on Sunday.
Hamas is said to have blocked a ceasefire deal with “extreme demands”, including leaving control of Gaza to the militant group, according to Israel.
7
7
7
About 1.5 million civilians are sheltering in Rafah, most of whom have fled from towns, refugee camps and villages further north.
It was said that Israel was They plan to attack five vast Hamas tunnels and shelters which she claims exist beneath the battered city.
Yoav Gallant, Israel's Defense Minister, warned on Sunday that his government was preparing to launch “a strong operation in the very near future.” future in Rafah and other places throughout Gaza.”
Speaking to the troops, he said: “We have clear goals for this war: we are committed to the elimination of Hamas and the release of the hostages…
“We have identified alarming signals that Hamas does not actually intend to make an agreement with us.
“What this means is an operation in Rafah and the entire Gaza Strip in the very near future.”
Less than half of the 250 hostages were captured by militants October 7 have been released in the seven months since Hamas launched its attack on Israel, although many are believed to have died in captivity.
The threat of an imminent invasion of Rafah came as negotiations over a peace deal stalled on Sunday over Hamas' “extreme” demands.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “Hamas remains entrenched in its extreme positions, the first of which is the demand to remove all our forces from the Gaza Strip, end the war and leave Hamas in its power. current.
“Israel cannot accept that.”
He added: “We are not prepared to accept a situation in which Hamas battalions leave their tunnels, regain control of the Gaza Strip, rebuild their military industries and restore the citizens of Israel in the communities of the Western Negev, the cities, will threaten. of the south and the whole country.
“In such a case, the next one October 7 would only be a matter of time. Hamas could make good on its promise to carry out repeated massacres, rapes and kidnappings.”
Egyptian and Qatari mediators worked with CIA chief William Burns in Cairo this weekend to try to broker a ceasefire – without a delegation from Israel.
The Hamas delegation is said to have left the negotiating table after saying it would only agree to a deal if Israel definitively ends the war.
The deal currently on the table involves Hamas releasing 33 hostages: all women, elderly and sick.
On Sunday, Netanyahu said Israel had been “very generous” in its offer and was willing to pause the fighting for 40 days to secure the release of the Israeli hostages.
Hamas's “extreme” demands include, according to the Israeli prime minister, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip, an end to the war and leaving the militant group intact.
The Israeli politician ruled out ending the war until all his “goals are achieved.”
Nations including Britain and the US are pushing to avert a Rafah offensive, which Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said would be “the greatest catastrophe in the history of the Palestinian people.” history“.
But Netanyahu said Israel will “stand alone” if it has to, telling world leaders this weekend: “No pressure, no decision from any international forum will stop Israel from defending itself.
“Never again, now.”
Defense Secretary Gallant added that “strong military action” will begin in Rafah “in the very near future, and throughout the Strip.”
Netanyahu does vowed to crush Hamas' “last bastion.”who he thinks is hiding in – or under – Rafah.
The Israeli Prime Minister has previously indicated that the war in Gaza will continue “until Hamas is destroyed” and that “anyone who thinks we (Israel will) stop is disconnected from reality.”
He said in December: “We are raining fire on Hamas, hellfire. All Hamas terrorists, from the first to the last, face death.
“They have only two options: surrender or die.”
That is expected of Israel continue the ground offensive in Rafah even if negotiations fail.
Why does Israel want to invade Rafah?
The Israeli army is reportedly poised and ready to invade Rafah regardless of whether or not it reaches a peace deal with the militant group Hamas.
So why does Israel want to storm the southern Gaza city?
Israel says Rafah is Hamas's last major stronghold in the Gaza Strip, as the army claims it has already dismantled 18 of Hamas' 24 battalions.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “We will enter Rafah because we have no other choice.
“We will destroy the Hamas battalions there, we will achieve all the objectives of the war, including the return of all our hostages.”
The country believes that Hamas has five battalions in Rafah and that its ground forces must intervene to destroy them.
The Israeli army believes that Hamas boss Yahya Sinwar is hiding in tunnels under the city.
About 1.5 million Palestinians – more than half of Gaza's population – have sought refuge in Rafah after fleeing towns, refugee camps and villages further north.
Israel has said it will evacuate civilians from the city before invading.
The army claims to have purchased 40,000 tents, each with a capacity of 10 to 12 people, to house Palestinians who had moved from the city before the attack.
7
7
7