Israel’s Netanyahu says Rafah battle ‘will decide many things’

JERUSALEM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that the ongoing battle in the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip will determine many aspects.

Speaking at a military air show near the Gaza border, as reported by Israel’s public broadcaster, Netanyahu emphasized the significance of the Rafah battle.

“The battle in Rafah will decide many things,” he said. “It’s not just about defeating the remaining brigades (Hamas), but also includes their escape tunnels and other supplies.”

Netanyahu further asserted that the destruction of these tunnels would play a crucial role in their efforts to overcome Hamas.

The Israeli army launched an offensive on May 6 in Rafah, home to around 1.5 million displaced Palestinians, with the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) estimating that around 600,000 people have fled the city since the start of the Israeli attack.

Israel continued its brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire in the enclave.

More than 35,200 Palestinians have been killed, and over 79,200 others injured since last October following a Hamas attack.

More than seven months into the Israeli war, vast swathes of Gaza lay in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.

Israel is accused of “genocide” at the International Court of Justice, which has ordered Tel Aviv to ensure its forces do not commit acts of genocide and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio in Istanbul