Netanyahu's bold stance: Prepared to face Hamas solo if pushed
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel is prepared to confront Hamas without support. This remark came after US President Joe Biden cautioned that he would stop arm shipments if Israel launched an attack on the city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, efforts to negotiate a ceasefire have come to a standstill.
Israel stands firm. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu explicitly stated that nothing will hinder the Israeli military’s further operations in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, particularly in Rafah.
In the border town, approximately 1.5 million refugees are facing dire circumstances. Experts, including some of Israel's staunchest allies, are appalled at the prospect of the systematic destruction of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
"If we have to stand alone, we will do so. Even if it means going it alone, we will proceed. If necessary, we will fight tooth and nail. Luckily, we have far more than just our bare hands," said the Prime Minister of Israel, responding to Biden's cautions.
It is certain that a strike on Rafah would force Biden to consider suspending arm shipments, stated John Kirby, the spokesperson for the National Security Council of the White House.
In the ongoing Israeli offensive since October 7, approximately 35,000 Palestinians have died, and over 78,000 have been injured.
Negotiation failure
The ceasefire discussions between Israel and Hamas have hit an impasse. An unnamed Israeli official told "The Washington Post" that the Israeli delegation walked out of the negotiations on Thursday evening, Eastern Time.
Hamas has announced that it will send its delegation to Doha, the capital of Qatar, and sticks to the ceasefire proposal it received last week.
Netanyahu remains hopeful that he can find common ground with Joe Biden. The Israeli Prime Minister aspires for the Gaza Strip to become a "demilitarized zone" post-Hamas, governed by authorities friendly to Israel.
