Yesterday (7th) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that taking control of the Rafah checkpoint in the southern part of the Gaza Strip was a necessary measure to free hostages and get rid of Hamas.
Prime Minister Netanyahu said in a video address that day, “Last night, with the approval of the War Cabinet, I ordered an operation to take place in Rafah.”
At the same time, he evaluated that “occupying the Rafah checkpoint is a very important measure” in destroying the remaining military power of Hamas, including the elimination of four Hamas battalions in Rafah.
In addition, he emphasized that the release of the hostages in November last year proved that military pressure on Hamas was a necessary condition for the return of the hostages, and that such operations also met the goal of returning the hostages.
Prime Minister Netanyahu pointed out that the truce proposal proposed by Hamas on the 6th was a means to prevent Israeli troops from entering Rafah, and that Hamas’s proposal was far from Israel’s essential demands.
Israel claims that Rafah is the last stronghold of Hamas and has maintained its policy of ground operations against Rafah despite constant disapproval from the international community.
Meanwhile, Hamas spokesman Osama Hamdan said in a statement today that there will be no ceasefire talks if Israel’s attack on Rafah continues.
VOA News
* This article refers to Reuters.
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