Israeli Prime Minister Vows to Continue Offensive in Gaza, Threatens Invasion of Rafah
The Israeli military offensive in Gaza shows no signs of slowing down as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vows to “finish the job.” Despite growing calls for a cease-fire, Netanyahu remains determined to achieve what he calls “total victory” over Hamas. The situation has escalated to the point where a member of Netanyahu’s War Cabinet has threatened to invade the southern city of Rafah if the remaining Israeli hostages are not freed by the upcoming Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
The possibility of a ground offensive on Rafah has raised concerns among the international community, as more than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million Palestinians have sought refuge in the city. Retired general Benny Gantz, who is part of Netanyahu’s War Cabinet, made the statement about invading Rafah during a conference of Jewish American leaders. While Gantz represents an influential voice, it is important to note that he does not have the final say on what actions will be taken.
The timing of a potential offensive on Rafah is particularly tense, as Ramadan is expected to begin on March 10. Historically, this period has seen increased tensions in the region. Cease-fire negotiations have been struggling, despite some signs of progress in recent weeks. Netanyahu has dismissed Hamas’ demands as “delusional,” while the United States, Israel’s top ally, still hopes to broker a cease-fire and hostage-release agreement.
However, Netanyahu’s opposition to Palestinian statehood poses a challenge to broader peace efforts. The U.S. sees Palestinian statehood as a key element in normalizing relations between Israel and regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia. Netanyahu’s government is filled with hard-liners who oppose Palestinian independence. In fact, his Cabinet adopted a declaration stating that Israel categorically rejects international edicts on a permanent arrangement with the Palestinians and opposes any unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state.
The international community overwhelmingly supports the establishment of an independent Palestinian state as part of a future peace agreement. Netanyahu’s stance on this issue further complicates the ongoing conflict. In response to concerns about a potential offensive in Rafah, Netanyahu has assured that Palestinian civilians will be evacuated. However, the question of where these civilians will go in the largely devastated Gaza remains unclear.
The situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, with Israeli strikes causing further casualties. Medics and witnesses report that at least 18 people were killed overnight, including women and children. The strikes targeted Rafah and Khan Younis, the main focus of the recent southern Gaza offensive. The Israeli military rarely comments on individual strikes and often blames civilian casualties on Hamas, as the militants operate in densely populated residential areas.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed concern over the impact of the offensive on Gaza’s healthcare system. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that southern Gaza’s main medical center, Nasser Hospital, is no longer functional after being raided by Israeli forces. The WHO team was denied access to the hospital, leaving around 200 patients, including 20 in urgent need of referrals elsewhere, without proper medical care.
The Israeli Minister of Defense, Yoav Gallant, claimed that at least 200 militants surrendered at Nasser Hospital. He also asserted that Hamas in Khan Younis has been defeated and that the group is largely leaderless in Gaza. However, he provided no evidence to support these claims. The Gaza Health Ministry reported that 70 medical personnel were among those arrested during the raid, leaving 150 patients without medical care. Israel has refused to allow patients, including newborns, to be evacuated to other hospitals.
The war sparked by Hamas’ attack on October 7 has taken a heavy toll on both Palestinians and Israelis. The Health Ministry in Gaza reports that at least 28,985 Palestinians have been killed, the majority of whom are women and children. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. The war has also displaced around 80% of Gaza’s population, with a quarter of them facing starvation.
In the occupied West Bank, violence erupted when Israeli forces attempted to arrest an armed suspect in the town of Tulkarem. The military claimed that the suspect, described as a senior militant, was killed, and a member of Israel’s paramilitary Border Police was severely wounded. The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that two Palestinians were killed in the incident.
The conflict in Gaza has the potential to ignite wider conflict in the region. The U.S. Central Command conducted self-defense strikes against cruise missiles and drones in an area of Yemen controlled by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebel group. Algeria, representing the Arab nations on the U.N. Security Council, has circulated a draft resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire and unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza. However, the U.S. has made it clear that it will veto any such resolution, as it believes it undermines its efforts to end the fighting.
Cease-fire negotiations and efforts to secure the release of hostages
