- Nathan Williams
- BBC News
Rafah is home to more than 1 million Palestinians who have fled other parts of Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reaffirmed his determination to launch an offensive in Rafah, ignoring international criticism.
The city is packed with about 1.5 million Palestinians who have sought refuge from other parts of Gaza.
His comments came as the German chancellor, who is on a visit to the Middle East, reiterated his opposition to the plan.
But Prime Minister Netanyahu said that “no amount of international pressure can prevent Israel from achieving all of its war objectives.”
“If we stop the war now before we have achieved all of our war goals, it means Israel has lost the war, and we will not allow this to happen,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a cabinet meeting.
He said Israel must be able to continue the war with the aim of “eliminating Hamas, freeing all the hostages and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel.”
“To that end, we will also be active in Rapha.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said an attack on the southern city of Gaza was “bound to happen” and would take “a few weeks.”
True to his own words, he also slammed his critics for forgetting the October 7 Hamas attack.
These attacks, which killed around 1,200 Israelis and took more than 250 hostages, triggered the current war. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said more than 31,400 people had died.
The Israeli leader is scheduled to meet later Sunday with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who is expected to repeat his warnings against such attacks.
Scholz told reporters in Jordan that “high numbers of casualties from such attacks” could dash any hopes for peace.
Israel's plan has been heavily criticized by the international community, with the United Nations and the United States warning that a full-scale attack on Rafah could have dire consequences.
UN World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Friday appealed to Israel not to carry out such attacks on Gaza's southernmost city “in the name of humanity”.
US President Biden has warned Israel that expanding its invasion of the city is a “red line that must not be crossed.”
Nevertheless, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office on Friday formally approved military operation plans in Rafah, adding that the military was preparing to evacuate civilians.
Speaking in Jordan, Scholz spoke of the need for a “longer lasting” ceasefire.
Ceasefire talks are expected to resume in Qatar later on Sunday. An Israeli delegation is likely to take part in negotiations, but it is not yet clear when it will leave.
Israel faces mounting criticism over civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip and a lack of aid that has fueled fears of starvation.
On Thursday, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called on Israel to hold an election to replace Netanyahu, leading to an angry backlash from Israel's leader's Likud party.
