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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is determined to launch an offensive in Rafah.
© Abir Sultan/AP/dpa
“Total victory is within reach”: In a TV interview, Israel's head of government is convinced of a timely victory over Hamas.
Meanwhile, his military is presenting further operational plans.
Tel Aviv/Gaza/Washington - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has predicted a victory over the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza war within weeks, as soon as the announced military offensive on Rafah in the south of the coastal region began.
“Total victory” is within reach.
“Not in months, but in weeks, as soon as we start the operation,” Netanyahu said on the TV program “Face the Nation” on the US television network CBS.
If an agreement on a ceasefire is initially reached, “it will be delayed somewhat,” said the head of government.
“But it will happen.
If we don't have an agreement, we will do it anyway.
It has to be done.
Because total victory is our goal and total victory is within reach,” he said.
The Israeli military presented its further operational plans to the war cabinet before the planned offensive.
As the military announced on Monday night, the cabinet had been presented with “a plan for the evacuation of the population from the combat areas in the Gaza Strip and the upcoming operational plan.” In addition, a plan for the provision of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip had been approved. “which is intended to prevent looting in the northern strip and other areas,” it said.
No details were given in the short statement.
Rafah, where 1.5 million Palestinians are seeking shelter from the fighting in other parts of the sealed-off coastal area in a confined space and under miserable conditions, was also not explicitly mentioned in the Israeli military's statement.
The planned offensive on Rafah has been heavily criticized internationally.
Even allies like the US are calling on Israel to show restraint because 1.5 million Palestinians in Rafah are seeking protection from the fighting in other parts of the sealed-off coastal area in a small space and under miserable conditions.
However, Netanyahu is determined to launch an offensive in Rafah.
The head of government has repeatedly emphasized that it would be impossible to achieve the war goal of eliminating Hamas if four Hamas battalions remained in Rafah.
The struggle for a ceasefire continues
Meanwhile, Egypt, Qatar and the USA continue to try to mediate between Israel and Hamas and, if possible, to achieve a ceasefire before the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which should also lead to the release of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
The holy month of Ramadan for Muslims begins around March 10th.
According to media reports, high-ranking delegations of mediators made “significant progress” in Paris with the participation of Israel.
The indirect negotiations were scheduled to continue at official level on Sunday in the Qatari capital Doha.
Meanwhile, according to media reports, Netanyahu is said to have made new demands for an agreement with the Islamist Hamas.
Accordingly, all high-ranking Palestinian prisoners would have to be taken to Qatar as a condition for their release in exchange for hostages held by Hamas, the Times of Israel newspaper reported on Sunday evening, citing information from Channel 12. Netanyahu therefore supports this demand War Cabinet deliberations were mentioned when the Israeli delegation reported on the progress made in negotiations in Paris.
dpa