Netanyahu-Blinken meeting/L.A.M
The Prime Minister's Office issued a statement today stating: "It is impossible to achieve the war goal of eliminating Hamas and leaving four Hamas battalions in Rafah. On the other hand, it is clear that a massive operation in Rafah requires the evacuation of the civilian population from the combat zones. That is why the Prime Minister instructed the IDF and the security establishment to bring a plan to the cabinet Doubly so for both the evacuation of the population and the disbanding of the battalions."
An Israeli senior official said today that the background for publishing the announcement was the White House spokesman's statement yesterday regarding such an operation. Yesterday, White House spokesman John Kirby said: "We have no indication that Israel is planning an operation in Rafah.
Such an operation when there are more than a million Palestinians in the area could be a disaster.
We will not support such a move if it is not carried out after careful planning."
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Gaza war
War of Iron Swords
United States