As cease-fire negotiations with Hamas continue, Netanyahu declares that he would enter Rafah “with or without a deal.”

Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, promised on Tuesday to invade Rafah, in southern Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are seeking refuge from the conflict, which has been raging for seven months.

 

Netanyahu said that “with or without a deal,” Israel will go into Rafah to eliminate the battalions of Hamas.

In order to release captives and provide some respite to the Palestinians in the beleaguered enclave, Israel and Hamas are in the midst of negotiations for a cease-fire accord.

“It is unthinkable that we would end the war before it accomplishes all of its objectives. According to a statement from his office, Netanyahu said, “We will enter Rafah and we will eliminate Hamas’ battalions there — with a deal or without a deal, to achieve the total victory,” during a meeting with the relatives of hostages held by terrorists in Gaza.

Netanyahu has pledged to win the conflict “totally,” and his nationalist allies in government have put pressure on him to attack Rafah, which Israel claims is Hamas’ final significant bastion.

A compromise that would prevent an Israeli invasion into Rafah, where more than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million people are seeking refuge, has raised hopes in recent days.

The fate of the inhabitants in Rafah in the event of an Israeli invasion has alarmed the entire world, particularly the United States, Israel’s closest friend.

After the terrorists’ strikes on Israel on October 7 ignited the conflict, Netanyahu has consistently resisted ending the war in exchange for the release of hostages and said that an advance on Rafah is essential to defeating the extremists. If he accepts a settlement, his administration may be in jeopardy since hard-line Cabinet members have called for an assault on Rafah.