Netanyahu and Gallant: Rafah and the assassination of Sinwar are a “primary goal” before any deal
A day before US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, arrived in Tel Aviv on a declared mission aimed at creating a breakthrough in the region and launching a prisoner exchange deal, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Defense Minister, Yoav Galant, made statements on Monday, in which they returned to threats and intimidation. The tension escalated, and they stressed that the Israeli goal was to “achieve complete victory,” assassinate Yahya Sinwar and the rest of Hamas’ leaders, and expand the war to Rafah.
Netanyahu said that he “prevents ending the war” before the movement’s leaders are assassinated in the Gaza Strip, stressing that the release of Israelis detained by the resistance factions in the Strip will not be “at any price.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Galant in a previous security assessment session at the Israeli army headquarters (dpa)
Netanyahu’s statements came during a session of the Likud Party’s parliamentary bloc, held this afternoon, which witnessed verbal altercations between party officials. Netanyahu said, “Our goal is to achieve complete victory over Hamas.” “We will kill the movement’s leadership, and therefore we must continue working in all areas of the Gaza Strip.” He added: “It is forbidden to end the war before that.” It will take time; “Months, not years.” He continued: “With regard to the kidnappers, we have released 110 hostages, and we are continuing to work on this matter, but (Hamas) has demands that we will not agree to. The exchange key must be similar to the previous agreement.
He stressed that Israel would not reach an agreement that would lead to the release of its prisoners in the Gaza Strip “at any price.” In a meeting with Israeli soldiers in Latrun on the outskirts of Jerusalem, according to a statement issued by his office, Netanyahu said that what he called “victory in the war” over the Gaza Strip would guarantee Israel new peace agreements. He said, “Complete victory (in Gaza) is the only way through which we can guarantee additional historic peace agreements that await us.” He added, “Complete victory will deal a fatal blow to the axis of evil: Iran, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and of course Hamas.” He continued: “There is no alternative to complete victory, and without it, the displaced (Israelis from the southern and northern regions) will not return.”
Netanyahu claimed that the Israeli army was able to “destroy more than half of their (Hamas) force.” We destroyed 18 battalions out of 24.” He said: “We will not stop the war without achieving this goal, which is a comprehensive victory that will restore security to the south and the north.”
Yahya Sinwar… The Shin Bet presented to the Israeli Prime Minister 6 plans to assassinate him (AP)
On the other hand, Gallant said on Monday that the head of the Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip, Yahya Sinwar, is “moving from one hideout to another” and is “unable to communicate” with his circles, claiming that Israel has destroyed “18 out of 24 battalions.” » of the armed wing of the Hamas movement, and claimed that “half of the movement’s members are either killed or seriously injured.”
Galant stressed in a press conference at his ministry headquarters, on Monday evening, that “the last battalion in Khan Yunis will be eliminated soon, as part of the continuation of the ground operation, which is considered one of the most complex operations in the history of wars.” He added: “The next target is Rafah. The leadership of Hamas and Sinwar are on the run.”
Regarding the fighting in the north, he said, “In addition to the fighting in Gaza; Part of the IDF’s activities are in the north, we are preparing to return the residents of the north to their homes safely. We prefer a settlement process to war; (Hezbollah) cannot threaten the population of Israel.”
In a related matter, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a phone call on Monday that the two-state solution is the only way to lasting peace in the Middle East.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (dpa)
The German Chancellor explained, according to a statement issued by his spokesman, that “only a two-state solution through negotiation opens the horizons for reaching a permanent solution to the conflict in the Middle East.” This should apply to Gaza and the West Bank.” He called for “the Palestinian Authority, after undergoing reform (…) to be given a central role.” According to the statement.
The Israeli government refuses to discuss a “two-state solution,” which raises the dissatisfaction of the international community, and last month Netanyahu reaffirmed his opposition to any “Palestinian sovereignty.” He had stressed that “Israel must maintain security control” over Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
Western diplomats are trying to promote a solution that would allow Israelis and Palestinians to live in separate sovereign states, a project whose prospects have been diminished by the war in Gaza. During the call with Netanyahu, Shulz stressed “the urgent need to significantly improve humanitarian access to the residents of the Gaza Strip,” describing the situation as “very worrying.”
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2024-02-05 23:19:41
