Netanyahu Vows Israel Will Invade Rafah, Rejects ‘International Pressure’

The US is aware an invasion of Rafah would be 'catastrophic' for civilians but is not threatening any consequences for Israel

On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Israel would continue its slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza despite “international pressure” and said Israeli forces would invade the southern city of Rafah, which is packed with 1.5 million Palestinians.

“Today, I want to tell you tell you clearly: The IDF will continue to operate against all of Hamas’s battalions throughout the Strip – and this includes Rafah, Hamas’s last stronghold,” Netanyahu said at a graduation ceremony for Israeli military officers. “Whoever tells us not to operate in Rafah, is telling us to lose the war – and that will not happen.”

A full-scale Israeli attack on Rafah would incur massive civilian casualties, something that was acknowledged in a leaked US diplomatic cable written by USAID officials that was obtained by The Intercept.

“A potential escalation of military operations in within Southern Gaza’s Rafah Governorate could result in catastrophic humanitarian consequences, including mass civilian casualties, extensive population displacement, and the collapse of the existing humanitarian response,” the cable reads.

While the US is aware of the catastrophe that will happen if Israel moves on Rafah, the Biden administration continues to provide unconditional military aid to Israel and is not threatening consequences if it invades the city.

Israeli War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz previously threatened Israel would invade Rafah by Ramadan if Hamas doesn’t release Israeli hostages. Ramadan begins on March 10, and there’s no sign of a breakthrough in Egyptian and Qatari-mediated talks.

International pressure is growing on Israel as Palestinians are starving to death, and Israel is still restricting aid shipments. The US is still providing political cover for the genocidal campaign at the UN, and Netanyahu said Israel would not cave to the pressure.

“Indeed, there is international pressure, and it is increasing. But it is precisely when the international pressure increases that we must close ranks among ourselves. We must stand together against the attempts to stop the war,” Netanyahu said.

Author: Dave DeCamp

Dave DeCamp is the news editor of Antiwar.com, follow him on Twitter @decampdave.