The Biden administration does not foresee Israeli forces imminently expanding their military operations in Rafah, two US officials told CNN, as the holy month of Ramadan begins on Monday for most Muslims.
Benny Gantz, a member of the Israeli war cabinet, who visited Washington last week, warned in recent weeks that if a temporary ceasefire and hostage release agreement is not reached during Ramadan, the Israeli army would launch the next phase of its war against Hamas with a major raid. towards Rafah, in southern Gaza.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that regardless of whether a deal is reached, he plans to send the military to Rafah.
“We will go there. we are not going to leave [Gaza]”Netanyahu said on Sunday in an interview with the German outlet Axel Springer. “You know, I have a red line. “You already know what the red line is: that October 7 does not happen again.”
Netanyahu was referring to comments made by President Joe Biden in an MSNBC interview on Saturday in which he said an operation in Rafah “is a red line.”
“There cannot be 30,000 more Palestinians dead,” Biden said.
Netanyahu said Sunday in an interview with Politico and German media outlet Bild that the operation would last no more than two months, but did not provide details on the timeline.
“Once we begin the intense action of eradicating Hamas terrorist battalions in Rafah, it will be a matter of weeks, if not months. That means it won't take more than two months, maybe six weeks, maybe four,” he said.
Read more about the situation in Rafah.
