Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel declared on Thursday that despite a U.S. threat to withhold certain arms, Israel would continue its military operations in Gaza and might proceed with a proposed invasion of Rafah, a densely populated city in the Gaza Strip.
President Joe Biden had previously expressed opposition to such an operation, citing concerns that it would worsen the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. On Wednesday, Biden announced that the U.S. would not provide offensive weapons specifically for an offensive in Rafah, placing increased pressure on Netanyahu.
Despite this, Netanyahu issued a statement on X, saying, “if we have to stand alone, we will stand alone. If we need to, we will fight with our fingernails. But we have much more than fingernails.”
אם נצטרך לעמוד לבד, נעמוד לבד וננצח. pic.twitter.com/PBlPBH8u6Y
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) May 9, 2024
Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, Israel’s top military spokesman, also commented on the situation, indicating that the Israeli military has sufficient munitions for its planned operations, including those in Rafah.
“The army has munitions for the missions it plans, and for the missions in Rafah, too — we have what we need,” he said during a news conference, per the Associated Press (AP).
The city of Rafah has become a focal point in the conflict, serving as a major hub for humanitarian efforts and as what Israel identifies as the last stronghold of Hamas. The tension escalated following Biden’s decision, leading to sharp reactions from Israeli officials, including a controversial post from Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, which featured a heart emoji between the words “Hamas” and “Biden,” suggesting an affinity (romantic perhaps?) between the geriatric President of the United States of America and the Palestinian militant Islamist group, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and many other international governments.
Hamas Biden
— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) May 9, 2024
Humanitarian organizations have warned that an invasion of Rafah would have catastrophic consequences. According to the United Nations, a significant portion of Gaza’s 2.3 million inhabitants are suffering from hunger, with conditions in northern Gaza reaching what the U.N. describes as a “full-blown famine.”
Even limited military operations earlier in the week have severely disrupted humanitarian efforts and complicated international attempts to mediate a ceasefire and secure the release of hostages.
The situation remains tense as Hamas, holding out for better terms, responded to a proposed ceasefire mediated by Egypt and Qatar, which Israel deemed insufficient. These developments come in the context of a war triggered by a Hamas attack on October 7, which resulted in significant casualties and the taking of hostages.
The conflict has led to the deaths of over 34,800 Palestinians, mostly women and children, as reported by the Gaza Health Ministry. The humanitarian crisis has been exacerbated by the closure of key crossings, including the Rafah crossing, complicating aid delivery. In response, a new aid corridor involving a floating pier is being prepared, with the first aid ship leaving Cyprus early Thursday.
Major Pete Nguyen of the Pentagon explained the upcoming efforts.
“In the coming days, the U.S. will commence an international community-backed effort to expand the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza using a floating pier,” Major Nguyen said, also according to the AP.
The post Netanyahu Issues Fierce Statement After U.S. Threatens to Withhold Arms Shipments to Israel appeared first on Resist the Mainstream.
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Author: Nicholas Dolinger
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