Netanyahu Criticizes Israeli Army's 'Tactical Pause' in Rafah

An Israeli official told Reuters that the Prime Minister of Israel severely criticized the army's decision for a 'tactical pause' in military operations in the Rafah area of Gaza. This official source stated on Sunday, June 17, that Benjamin Netanyahu, upon learning of the army's decision for a tactical pause, approached his military minister and explicitly stated that this decision was unacceptable to him. Reuters reported on Sunday, June 17, that amid increasing international warnings about the humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip, Netanyahu's reaction to the army's decision indicates divisions and tensions within the Israeli governing system. The Israeli army announced a daily 'tactical pause' in military operations in Rafah, southern Gaza, to allow for the entry of more humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The army stated that the pause would begin daily at 8 AM and continue until 7 PM, with no deadline announced for the end of this daily 'tactical pause.' The announcement of this decision faced opposition from Itamar Ben-Gvir, the Minister of National Security and leader of the right-wing 'Jewish Power' movement, who said that anyone who decided on a ceasefire in Rafah was 'evil and foolish.' Ben-Gvir added that such a decision was not raised in a 'crazy and delusional' manner in the government meeting and would only lead to more casualties and victims for us. This dispute is the latest instance of tensions between coalition members and the army over the conduct of the Gaza war, which is now in its ninth month. In addition to Benny Gantz, leader of the Israeli National Unity Party, who resigned from the war cabinet last week, Gadi Eisenkot and Hili Tropper, two other ministers from this centrist party, also sent resignation letters to the Prime Minister on Sunday night. Furthermore, the commander of the army in the south also resigned from his position. On the other hand, right-wing ministers allied with Netanyahu's government, who have become stronger after Gantz and his allies left the coalition, threatened again that they would topple the coalition government if a ceasefire plan were implemented. Despite increasing international pressure for a ceasefire, an agreement to stop the Gaza war still seems out of reach. Reuters writes that although polls show that the majority of Israelis support the government's goal of destroying Hamas, there are widespread protests against the government for not taking further actions to secure the return of about 120 hostages held by Hamas since mid-October.