NewsWill Israel attack Rafah? Netanyahu announces it 'will happen'

Will Israel attack Rafah? Netanyahu announces it 'will happen'

SOUTHERN ISRAEL, ISRAEL - FEBRUARY 06: An Israeli tank moves a long the border, as Gaza is seen behind on February 06, 2024 in Southern Israel, Israel. The Israeli prime minister's office referred to as "constructive" the recent high-level talks on a proposed pause in fighting in Gaza, as well as the release of Israeli hostages held there. The potential deal, which is being brokered by Qatar and Egypt, would also entail the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel and other conditions. (Photo by Amir Levy/Getty Images)

Images source: © GETTY | Amir Levy

4:11 AM EST, February 26, 2024

Israel's military offensive in Rafah may be "slightly delayed" if an agreement is reached on a week-long ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in Sunday.

Netanyahu: 'We will win this war'

"We can't compromise with total victory because I'll tell you, we can't win the peace if we don't win the war, and we will win this war," - argued the PM of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, in an interview with CBS News.

The prime minister stressed, "Hamas is a terrorist organization that- once we begin the Rafah operation, the intense phase of the fighting is weeks away from completion, not months, weeks away from completion". And that is- we've already destroyed 18 of the 24 Hamas terrorist battalions. So we- we have– and four of them are concentrated in the Rafah".

The Israeli Prime Minister's Office said Sunday night that the Israeli army presented the War Cabinet with a plan to evacuate Palestinian civilians from the Rafah war zones and its operational strategy for the future.

"We can't leave the last Hamas stronghold without taking care of it, obviously, we have to do it. But understand, too, that I've asked the army to submit to me a double plan, first to evacuate to enable the evacuation of the Palestinian civilians in Gaza, and, obviously, second, to destroy the remaining Hamas battalions. That gets us a real, real distance towards the completion of our victory, and that- we're not going to give it up. If we have a deal, it'll be delayed somewhat. But it'll happen. If we don't have a deal, we'll do it anyway. It has to be done. Because total victory is our goal, and total victory is within reach. Not months away, weeks away once we begin the operation", said Netanyahu, in an interview with CBS News.

Ceasefire? 'Negotiations are underway'

Netanyahu acknowledged that negotiations for a deal with Hamas are underway, but gave no details. In doing so, however, he confirmed Egyptian TV reports that expert-level talks resumed in Qatar on Sunday aimed at achieving a cease-fire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.

Source: CBS News