Netanyahu vows Rafah invasion ‘with or without a deal’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday said Israel will invade the southern Gaza city of Rafah, regardless of whether a cease-fire and hostage release deal is met.

“The idea that we will halt the war before achieving all of its goals is out of the question. We will enter Rafah and we will eliminate the Hamas battalions there — with or without a deal, in order to achieve the total victory,” Netanyahu said in a statement from his office.

Netanyahu has faced mounting pressure from other leaders who have urged him not to launch a full invasion of Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have sought refuge from Israel’s nearly seven-month war with Hamas.

The Biden administration has repeatedly urged the Israeli military against entering the city without a specific plan to prevent mass civilian casualties. More than 34,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza since early October, according to local health officials.

Israel has increased strikes on Rafah in recent weeks, claiming they are necessary to eliminate the threat of Hamas.

Netanyahu announced earlier this month that a date for invading Rafah was set, though the State Department said earlier this month that plans have not been communicated to U.S. leaders.

His remarks came hours ahead of a slated meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is arriving in Israel to continue truce talks, The Associated Press reported.

The current deal proposal would include a six-week halt in fighting in exchange for the release o of remaining hostages who were taken during Hamas’s Oct. 7 surprise assault, which left about 1,200 people dead. More than 100 hostages are believed to still be under Hamas’s control in Gaza.

In a call with Netanyahu over the weekend, Biden “reiterated his clear position” on Rafah and discussed the humanitarian situation. The White House said Biden is working with Israel to open more humanitarian corridors into the territory from Israel.