Israelis are prepared to fight with their “fingernails,” according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a thinly-veiled response to US President Joe Biden‘s warning that supplies might be halted due to a prepared operation in Gaza.
Israel’s long-awaited action against Rafah, where it claims more than a million war-displaced Palestinians are housed among tens of Hamas fighters and possibly tens of the hostages, was first announced this week with the removal of some civilians followed by sporadic incursions.
Without a reliable plan to protect non-combatants, the Biden administration has declared it is ineligible to support a significant Rafah war. According to Israel, Rafah cannot be taken away from the seven-month-old issue.
The Netanyahu authorities had been quiet about reports that Washington was halting a shipment of underwater bombs until Biden made the announcement on Wednesday, claiming it was a US warning to Israelis never to “go into Rafah.”
” If we must walk alone, we shall have alone”, Netanyahu said without referring especially to the US news.
” If we must, we shall fight with our fingernails”, he said in a video statement. ” But we have much more than our fingers, and with that strength of heart, with God’s help, up we may be victorious”.
The centrist former defence minister Benny Gantz and the traditional prime minister’s remarks were shared by the other two members of his battle case, both of whom voted in favor of a more thorough investigation of Rafah.
” I turn to Israel’s foes as well as to our best of friends and claim- the State of Israel may be subdued”, Gallant said in a statement. ” We will stand strong, we will achieve our goals- we will hit Hamas, we will hit ( Lebanon’s ) Hezbollah, and we will achieve security”.
Gantz expressed gratitude for the unparalleled US assistance and supplies that the Israeli government has provided during the conflict.
He stated on X that Israel has a responsibility to continue fighting in order to release our captives and put an end to Hamas ‘ danger to southern Israel.
The United States is obligated to provide Israel with the equipment needed for this mission, according to the statement.
The United States has been attempting to broker diplomatic talks between Israel and Hamas, which were mediated by Egypt and Qatar, in addition to the open conflict.
Those who have questioned Hamas’s call for the conclusion of the Gaza battle have failed. Israel is only willing to engage in a stalemate. Without a package, the latest sessions in Cairo were adjourned on Thursday, and Israel said it would carry out the planned Rafah activity.
Back Admiral Daniel Hagari, the country’s top military spokesman, claimed in a presentation that Rafah” and another operations that are planned” were being carried out.
