New attack announcement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: We will attack Rafah in a few weeks

As a humanitarian tragedy unfolds in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu made statements before a cabinet meeting.

Stating that they have been fighting on two fronts, military and diplomatic, since October 7, Netanyahu said, "However, it is no secret that international pressure is increasing."

Pointing out that there are those in the international community who are trying to stop the war before its goals are achieved by directing "baseless accusations" at the army, the government, and himself, Netanyahu said, "They are doing this now, at the height of the war, in an effort to force elections. They are doing this because they know that the elections would stop the war and paralyze the country for at least six months."

Netanyahu argued that international pressure would not prevent Israel from achieving all the goals of the war, stating that these goals are "to eliminate Hamas, release all our hostages, and ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel."

"PRESSURE HAMAS AND IRAN INSTEAD OF US"

"I say to our friends in the international community, have you forgotten October 7 so quickly, the most horrific massacre of Jews since the Holocaust?" said Netanyahu, addressing the international community by saying, "Instead of pressuring Israel, pressure Hamas and its patron, Iran."

- Operation in Rafah will begin within a few weeks

Reiterating that they will conduct an operation in Rafah, Netanyahu said, "To this end, we have approved operational action plans for Rafah, including steps to evacuate the civilian population from the battlefields. This is an important stage before military action."

Prime Minister Netanyahu indicated that the operation in Rafah would begin within a few weeks.

In the Israeli press, it is assessed that Netanyahu's words addressed to the international community were a message to US President Joe Biden.

Biden had stated that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat who said Netanyahu was mismanaging the crisis in Gaza and that the country should hold elections, had "made a good speech" and that his thoughts were "shared by many Americans."

Netanyahu's approval of the attack on Rafah came despite warnings from the international community, including the US and Egypt, not to enter Rafah, where approximately 1.5 million displaced Palestinians are sheltering.