Gantz threatens to take offensive at the beginning of Ramadan
Despite international warnings, Israel is sticking to its planned offensive in Rafah. Minister Gantz threatened to start it at the beginning of the fasting month of Ramadan.
Prime Minister Netanyahu declared that he wanted to “finish the job.”
Israeli Minister Benny Gantz has threatened to launch the planned offensive on Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip at the start of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan. “The world needs to know and the Hamas leadership needs to know: If the hostages are not home by Ramadan, the fighting will continue everywhere, including in the Rafah region,” said the former Israeli army chief, who was part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s war cabinet heard, on Sunday in Jerusalem.
The Islamic fasting month of Ramadan is scheduled to begin around March 10th. “To those who say the price is too high, I say clearly: Hamas has a choice. They can surrender, release the hostages and the civilians in Gaza can celebrate Ramadan,” Gantz said.
Netanyahu: Will “finish the job”
Netanyahu again rejected calls for an end to Israel’s military offensive in the Gaza Strip on Sunday. He announced that he would “finish the job.” On Saturday he explained that anyone calling on Israel to abandon the offensive was essentially demanding that his country “lose the war” against the terrorist militia Hamas. At the same time, he emphasized that the offensive would also take place in the event of an agreement with Hamas to release the Israeli hostages. Even if such an agreement is reached, “we will move into Rafah,” said the head of government.
1.4 million Palestinians in Rafah
In Rafah on the border with Egypt, around 1.4 million Palestinians have sought refuge from the fighting. A number of countries, including Israel’s closest ally the USA, are therefore calling for the offensive to be abandoned. Negotiations are currently underway in the Egyptian capital Cairo regarding a ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. So far, the talks brokered by the USA, Egypt and Qatar have not produced any results.
Fighters from the radical Islamic terrorist militia Hamas entered Israel on October 7th and committed atrocities there, mainly against civilians. According to Israeli information, around 1,160 people were killed and around 250 were taken hostage to the Gaza Strip. According to Israeli information, 130 of the hostages are still in the Palestinian territory and 30 of them are said to be dead.
In response to the Hamas attack, Israel set its goal of destroying Hamas. According to Hamas figures, which cannot be independently verified, more than 28,900 people have been killed in the massive military operation in the Gaza Strip.
