Netanyahu says Israel will launch military campaign against Rafah even with ceasefire deal

WASHINGTON – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday Israel will go ahead with a military operation against the southern Gaza city of Rafah despite U.S. opposition to any campaign that could put civilians at risk.

In a statement released by his office, Netanyahu said Israel would proceed with its planned attack against Rafah with or without a ceasefire deal that would include the release of hostages.

"The idea that we will halt the war before achieving all of its goals is out of the question,” Netanyahu said. “We will enter Rafah and we will eliminate the Hamas battalions there – with or without a deal, in order to achieve the total victory."

Netanyahu’s statement came just hours before Secretary of State Antony Blinken was to arrive in Tel Aviv to accelerate ceasefire talks. Mediators in the negotiations have expressed optimism that they are getting closer to a deal that would include a six-week ceasefire and the release dozens of hostages held by Hamas since the start its conflict with Israel on Oct. 7.

Blinken urged Hamas on Monday to accept the latest ceasefire proposal, saying Israel had made an "extraordinarly generous” offer and that it was up to Hamas to accept it.

President Joe Biden has urged Israel not to open a military offensive in Rafah out of fears that it could result in large-scale civilian casualties. More than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million Palestinians have been displaced by the seven-month war and have been sheltering in Rafah. Israel, however, insists that Rafah is Hamas’ last major stronghold in Gaza.

Biden reiterated his concerns about a military offensive in Rafah during a phone call with Netanyahu on Sunday, the White House said.

“We don’t want to see a major ground operation in Rafah,” said John Kirby, the White House spokesman on national security issues. “Certainly, we don’t want to see operations that haven’t factored in the safety and security of those 1.5 million folks trying to seek refuge down there. And we’ve conveyed that to our Israeli counterparts.”

On the proposed hostage deal, “this is a good proposal – it’s a really good proposal,” Kirby said. “And Hamas ought to jump at it.”Michael Collins covers the White House. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @mcollinsNEWS.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Netanyahu says Israel will attack Rafah with or without ceasefire