JERUSALEM, Israel – The confrontation between the U.S. and Israel over the last major stronghold in Gaza continues.
For some, the fate of Rafah means victory or defeat in Israel’s war against Hamas.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushed back on the Biden administration’s red lines on Rafah.
Since Hamas’ last remaining battalions are hiding out in Rafah, Netanyahu says he’s told President Biden Israel must invade.
“We see no way to eliminate Hamas militarily without destroying these remaining battalions. We are determined to do it,” Netanyahu said Tuesday.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin repeated Tuesday what the Biden administration has often asserted, saying, “We acknowledged from the very beginning that Israel has a fundamental right to defend itself.”
He then added a caveat: “But we also recognize the importance of ensuring that people remain safe in Gaza.”
Netanyahu claims the Biden administration is ignoring the Israeli pledge that it has every intention of watching out for Gaza’s civilians.
“We, of course, share in this desire to allow an orderly exit of the population and provide aid to the civilian population. We have been doing this since the beginning of the war,” Netanyahu stated.
Israeli coalition ministers Ron Dermer and Tzachi Hanegbi
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