The ground offensive in Rafah is seen as an important milestone in the victory over Hamas. Does Israel have to choose between attacking the city and responding to Iran's attacks?
Jerusalem - Israel's planned ground offensive in Rafah could be postponed due to a possible response to Iran's attacks. This could shift Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's stated goal of the complete destruction of Hamas - even if only slightly. As
CNN
reported, an escalation with Iran could demand important military resources from the Gaza Strip.
The offensive in the city in the southern Gaza Strip is one of Israel's most important strategic war goals. Netanyahu has long been pushing for the importance of the offensive in dismantling the remaining Hamas battalions. In doing so, he goes against the will of the USA, which increased pressure on Israel to refrain from the ground offensive in Rafah.
Possible reactions to Iran – Debate in Israel's wartime parliament postpones Rafah operation
The plan was actually to begin dropping leaflets in parts of the city on Monday,
CNN
reported , citing two Israeli sources. The aim was to make the civilian population aware of the impending attacks. More than a million people are currently seeking refuge in Rafah.
But after the attacks from Iran last weekend, a heated debate broke out in the Israeli parliament. This is about an appropriate response to the fire from more than 300 missiles and drones from Iran and other allied states.
But an escalation of the conflict could only further delay a military operation in Rafah. According to
CNN
, an escalation would monopolize the military's attention and necessary resources. This means that an offensive in Rafah cannot be carried out with all forces.
USA approves ground offensive? – Avoiding escalation with Iran as a condition
An Egyptian source familiar with the situation in Gaza, according to Qatari broadcaster
Alaraby
, said that the US government would accept the military operation in Rafah if Israel did not escalate tensions with Iran. In this context, an escalation means a large-scale military operation. It is not yet clear whether Israel will completely reject a military response to the attacks from Iran.
However, the US had rejected the reports, the
Times of Israel
reported . A spokesman for the country's National Security Council told the media that such a plan had never been discussed.
However, Netanyahu is said to have already given up on planned reactions after speaking on the phone with US President Biden, the Israeli broadcaster
Kan
reported . The demands of the USA could already be having an effect. A high-ranking official, who wished to remain anonymous, also said that there would still be a response to the attacks. “But it will be different than originally planned.”
Israel to buy 40,000 tents for military operation in Rafah
According to Netanyahu, a strategy for the offensive in Rafah already appears to be in place. The Prime Minister announced on Monday (April 8) that a date for the military operation had already been set. However, he did not say when the attack was planned. His comments probably caused confusion within the government. Israel's Defense Minister Joav Gallant denied to the US government that a date had already been set.
Nevertheless, planning for the ground offensive appears to be underway. As the
Jerusalem Post
reported, Israel has purchased around 40,000 tents to accommodate the civilian population. This should make the offensive possible “in the near future”. According to information from
Spiegel
, there is no official communication from Israel about the purchase of the tents. A government spokesman only confirmed to
AFP
that a tender had been opened to purchase the tents, "destined for the Gaza Strip." (nhi)