cnn
,
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that “the intensive phase of the war with Hamas (in Gaza) is about to end,” and that the military’s focus could now shift to Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, which is at the center of the war. Is the place of. The Iran-backed group Hezbollah has become more militant in recent weeks.
On the other hand, Netanyahu vowed that Israel would continue in Gaza until the terrorist group Hamas is eliminated.
“This does not mean that the war is going to end, but the war is going to end in Rafah at its current stage. This is true. We will continue to mow later,” Netanyahu told Channel 14 TV in his first face-to-face interview with local Israeli media since October 7.
More than 100,000 Palestinians were taking refuge in Rafah before Israel launched its wind and gardens campaign in the southern Gaza city, drawing criticism from the world body for no progress. Around 800,000 of the population have since been displaced from Rafah, where conditions have been described by the UN food agency as “apocalyptic”.
The city’s border with Egypt – a vital access level for humanitarian aid – is closed because Israeli forces overran it early on.
And global pressure on Israel’s activities in Gaza has intensified since it began its campaign in Rafah. In a final motion, the UN Supreme Court ordered Israel to immediately halt its controversial military campaign, describing the humanitarian situation as “catastrophic”.
In his interview, Netanyahu said he was willing to reach a “partial agreement” with Hamas to return some of the hostages still held in Gaza, although he reiterated his stance that the goal of a ceasefire would be achieved. The struggle will still continue. Destroying Hamas.
“I am not ready to give it up,” Netanyahu said.
The high minister has faced national opposition in Israel over his calls for a ceasefire in Gaza and the return of all hostages. On Saturday, families of hostages took part in ongoing anti-government protests, including in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Herzliya, Caesarea, Ra’anana, Be’er Sheva, Kiryat Gat and the city of Pardes Hanna-Karkur. Many protesters called on the federal government to allow hostage-takers to trade freely.
The US-backed three-step ceasefire plan proposes “a permanent end of hostilities and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza in exchange for the release of all other hostages still held in Gaza”.
The rifts between the Israeli government and its army also seem to be deepening. Netanyahu has come under increasing pressure from members of his government and Israel’s allies, including the United States, to formulate a strategy for post-war governance of Gaza following Israel’s bombardment of the sovereign territory.
Based on the prime minister’s comments, Hamas said Netanyahu’s words show he is looking for partisan reassurances, not an end to the war in Gaza.
Hamas noted in a comment that Netanyahu’s position “is a clear confirmation of his rejection of the recent Security Council resolution and US President Joe Biden’s proposals.”
Hamas continues to insist that any guarantees come with “clear confirmation of a permanent ceasefire and full withdrawal from the Gaza Strip”.
Netanyahu also told Channel 14 TV that “after the end of the critical phase, we will have the possibility to transfer some power to the north, and we will do that.”
“Firstly, for security purposes, and secondly, also to bring our residents home. If we could do it politically that would be great. If not, we will do it another way, but we will bring everyone back home – all residents of the North and the South,” he said.
The Iran-backed Islamist movement Hezbollah, one of the strongest paramilitaries in the Middle East, has been carrying out deadly attacks targeting gardens from southern Lebanon to northern Israel since October 8, the next generation of Hamas attacks on Israel.
Israel has responded to Hezbollah attacks with measures that include killing Hezbollah militants, including senior commanders.
Hundreds of Israelis were evacuated from their homes in northern Israel due to the ongoing conflict. The villages of southern Lebanon have also become deserted.
An increase in cross-border attacks in recent weeks has raised concerns about the possible outbreak of another full-scale war in the Middle East.
Israeli officials have informed the United States that they plan to shift resources from southern Gaza to northern Israel in preparation for a possible offensive against the gang, American officials told CNN on Wednesday. A senior US official previously told CNN that the consequences of a wider conflict between Israel and Hezbollah could be dire.
US officials have serious concerns that in the event of a full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group could weaken Israel’s air defenses in the north – including the much-vaunted Iron Dome wind defense machine.
In the interview, Netanyahu was also asked whether his way to end the fighting with Hezbollah was through guarantees or war.
The High Minister replied, “Look, if there is any agreement, it will be as per our terms. Our terms do not mean ending the war, leaving Gaza and keeping Hamas intact. I refuse to maintain Hamas. We have to eliminate them.”
Israel launched the war in Gaza after the October 7 Hamas attacks, when militants killed about 1,200 of the population and took more than 250 hostage. Since then, the Israeli campaign has killed more than 37,000 of the population, according to the health ministry in Gaza.
This breaking information story has been updated.
Discover more from news2source
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
