Netanyahu: Those who tell us not to enter Rafah are essentially saying do not defeat Hamas

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, criticized calls for Israel to refrain from military action in Rafah during a recent interview with ABC that is set to air today. Netanyahu told ABC, "We will take the remaining terrorist brigades of Hamas in Rafah, which is the last stronghold." Israel is preparing for a large-scale attack on Rafah, the southernmost city of Gaza and bordering Egypt, where over one million Palestinian refugees have taken shelter. In response to requests from various countries in recent days, the Israeli Prime Minister said, "Those who say we should not enter Rafah under any circumstances are essentially saying lose the war and keep Hamas there." Rafah has become home to nearly one million displaced Palestinians who have been driven south due to the months-long war between Israel and Hamas militants that began with a terrorist attack in southern Israel on October 7. An Israeli official told Reuters yesterday that the two countries regularly exchange views on maintaining security along the border, an area where he claimed few Hamas tunnels remain. This official stated that Israel would seek to plan for the relocation of Palestinian refugees to northern Gaza before any military operation in Rafah. The Israeli Prime Minister's office claims that four elite Hamas brigades are in Rafah, and Israel cannot achieve its goal of eradicating this Islamist group supported by the Islamic Republic as long as they are there. In a statement, Netanyahu's office warned civilians in Rafah that they must evacuate the war zone. In this regard, the Israeli army emphasized that it would take measures to prevent civilian casualties. Israel has repeatedly accused the Iranian-backed Hamas militants of hiding among civilians, including in schools, shelters, and hospitals. Hamas has denied these accusations. Yesterday, the Israeli army reported the discovery of Hamas tunnels beneath the main headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in Gaza. This discovery comes as many countries have temporarily cut their financial aid to UNRWA due to the involvement of several of its members in Hamas's October 7 attack on Gaza. According to the Associated Press, the Israeli army invited journalists to visit the discovered tunnels on Thursday. Israel claims that UNRWA provided electricity to these Hamas tunnels. UNRWA stated that it had no knowledge of these underground facilities, but these findings necessitate an "independent investigation," which cannot be conducted due to the ongoing war. An Associated Press journalist estimated that the discovered tunnel network beneath UNRWA's main headquarters in Gaza extends at least half a kilometer and has at least 10 entrances. The Associated Press reported that visiting journalists were able to make eye contact with Israeli soldiers present in the courtyard of UNRWA's headquarters through a hole in the ceiling of the tunnel. Israeli soldiers also showed journalists a room filled with computers and wires in the UNRWA building, with wires connected to another room in these tunnels. The Israeli army also stated that it found guns, ammunition, grenades, and explosives in UNRWA facilities that were used by Hamas members. Egypt warns Israel: We will suspend relations if Palestinians enter Sinai. Israeli airstrikes on Rafah; over 30 killed. Netanyahu calls for a plan to evacuate Palestinian civilians from Rafah and complete defeat of Hamas. The Israeli army intensified operations in Rafah; increasing international concerns about civilian conditions. Biden considers Israel's military response in Gaza to be "excessive." A Hezbollah military commander was killed in a drone attack attributed to Israel. Israel intensified bombing of Rafah; ongoing international efforts for a ceasefire.