There are growing fears over an imminent Israeli invasion into the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where 1.5 million refugees have fled, creating an already disastrous humanitarian crisis. If Israel were to launch a full ground invasion, the situation would become cataclysmic.
In an interview with ABC News’ Sunday talk show “This Week with George Stephanopoulos,” Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel will not be deterred from its plans to invade Rafah. “Victory is within reach. We’re going to do it. We’re going to get the remaining Hamas terrorist battalions and Rafah, which is the last bastion, but we’re going to do it,” he boasted. He claimed that, “We’re going to do it while providing safe passage for the civilian population so they can leave,” a patently absurd statement given Israel’s previous practice of bombing so-called “safe zones.”
When asked where the civilians in Rafah should go, Netanyahu said: “You know, the areas that we’ve cleared north of Rafah, plenty of areas there.”
“We are working out a detailed plan to do so,” Netanyahu added. “We’re not, we’re not cavalier about this.” Despite the increasing calls from around the world for Israel not to go through with such an invasion, Netanyahu was indignant. “Those who say that under no circumstances should we enter Rafah are basically saying lose the war. Keep Hamas there,” he said.
