Netanyahu Says Military Attack on Rafah Will Continue; Stalemate in Ceasefire Negotiations and Speculation About Expansion of Military Operations

With the beginning of Ramadan and while negotiations for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza are at a standstill, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the military attack on the Rafah area in southern Gaza will continue. On Sunday, Netanyahu said that despite warnings from U.S. President Joe Biden that such actions are a 'red line,' he will proceed with the military assault on Rafah, where 1.5 million Palestinian refugees have taken shelter. In an interview with MSNBC aired on Saturday, Biden remarked that Netanyahu 'should pay more attention to the innocent lives lost as a result of actions taken' in Gaza. The U.S. President stated that he believes the Israeli leader 'is harming Israel more than helping it.' In response to Biden's stance, Netanyahu told Politico and the German media outlet Bild, 'I don't exactly know what the President meant, but if he meant that I am pursuing private policies against the will of the majority of Israelis and that this harms Israel's interests, he is mistaken on both counts.' Netanyahu's remarks came as Ramadan began and ceasefire negotiations were halted. Israeli officials had previously warned that if hostages from Gaza were not home by the start of Ramadan, they would initiate military action in Rafah. Netanyahu stated that operations in this southern city would not last more than two months, but he did not provide specific details regarding the timeline. He also rejected Biden's claim that he is 'harming Israel more than helping' in limiting civilian casualties in Gaza. In this context, two American officials told CNN that the Biden administration does not expect Israeli forces to soon expand their military operations in Rafah. Meanwhile, the UN Secretary-General for humanitarian aid recently warned that a ground invasion of Rafah could lead to a 'massacre.' On the other hand, Joe Biden, in a statement released on Sunday to mark the beginning of Ramadan, said that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza this Ramadan is 'on the minds' of many. Biden committed that the United States 'will continue to lead international efforts to send more humanitarian aid to Gaza' and 'will work tirelessly for an immediate and sustainable ceasefire for at least six weeks as part of an agreement that includes the release of hostages.' Following the terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the taking of more than 250 hostages, Israel launched its assault on Gaza with the aim of destroying this Islamist group supported by the Islamic Republic of Iran. The United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Japan, Israel, and several other countries have listed Hamas as a terrorist organization. Sources: CNN, Times of Israel website.