Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Tuesday to enter Rafah “with or without a deal.” He also claimed that the humanitarian evacuation of Rafah “has already begun.”
In a meeting with the families of hostages taken on October 7, Netanyahu said, “The idea that we will stop the war before achieving all of its goals is out of the questions. We will enter Rafah and we will eliminate Hamas’ battalions there — with a deal or without a deal, to achieve the total victory.”
There has been a cautious optimism in recent days that a deal may be on the table, as both Israel and Hamas have made concessions. The hopes were that this would avert an Israeli operation in Rafah and the humanitarian consequences it may bring.
According to Al-Hadath, Netanyahu also suggested that the “the process of evacuating civilians from Rafah has begun.”
Ynet reported earlier on Tuesday that the Israeli military assessed that a decision on a hostage deal or to begin the Rafah operation will come in the next 48 to 72 hours. Israel’s Cairo negotiation delegation decided to remain in Egypt, awaiting an answer from Hamas before finalizing the accord.
Read more
