According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the date for an invasion of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip has been set. Israel is constantly working to achieve its goals, he says. These are the release of all hostages and complete victory over Hamas.
“This victory requires the invasion of Rafah and the elimination of the terrorist battalions there,” Netanyahu continued. “It will happen – there is a date.” However, the Prime Minister does not mention the date himself.
The pressure on the head of government from right-wing extremist coalition partners had increased earlier. Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir of the Otzma Yehudit party wrote on the X platform, formerly Twitter, on Monday: “If the Prime Minister decides to end the war without a broad attack on Rafah to decisively defeat Hamas, he will have no mandate to remain serve as head of government.”
“We are at the right time”
Also on Monday, Defense Secretary Joav Gallant said the timing of an agreement with Hamas was “opportune.” “I think we are at the right time,” he told Israeli recruits on Monday, according to a statement from his office.
State-affiliated Egyptian news channel Al-Kahera News had earlier reported that talks between Israel and Hamas had made progress. All involved agreed on fundamental points, the report said. “Significant progress” had been made, the broadcaster reported on Monday, citing a senior Egyptian representative.
The majority of troops withdrew from southern Gaza
Israel said it had withdrawn all soldiers from the southern Gaza Strip last weekend after months of fighting. The armed forces did this “to recover and prepare for future operations,” an army official told AFP. The Israeli army also says it is making further preparations for a possible war on the border with Lebanon. “A new phase in the Northern Command’s preparation for war has been completed,” she said.
Fears that the war will spread to the region have been growing for months. UN officials on Monday called for de-escalation “while there is still room for diplomacy.” The violence that has been going on for six months must “stop”, said the UN representative for Lebanon, Joanna Wronecka, and the commander of the UN mission UNIFIL, which is responsible for monitoring the Israeli-Lebanese border area, Aroldo Lázaro Sáenz.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
