Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that the IDF will advance into Rafah, asserting that “no force in the world” can halt the impending invasion of the Gazan city, currently home to approximately 1.4 million displaced Palestinians.
Netanyahu made these remarks while addressing new IDF recruits, emphasizing Israel’s determination to eliminate Hamas. Despite mounting pressure from the United States and European leaders to refrain from invading Rafah without a comprehensive civilian evacuation plan, Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel’s intention to eradicate Hamas, including its presence in Rafah.
Israel contends that Rafah serves as the operational base for four of the remaining six Hamas battalions, supported by other Palestinian militant groups.
“There is no force in the world that will stop us,” he added. “Many forces are trying to do this, but it will not help, because this enemy, after what it has done, will not do it again. It will cease to exist.”
The Israeli prime minister stated that Israel’s primary goal remains the safe return of all hostages who remain captives of Hamas since the October 7 attack.
It remains unclear how many of the remaining 133 hostages are alive. At least five of them are US citizens.
Netanyahu’s purported warning comes just a day after he claimed that there was a scheduled date for the Rafah incursion.
The US has told Netanyahu that a proper plan must be put in place to evacuate civilians from Rafah before the IDF begins its operation in the city.
