Deal won’t change plans to invade Rafah, Netanyahu tells families of hostages and of slain troops

Israel will go into Rafah regardless of truce talks, pledges Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a conversation with bereaved families and relatives of hostages pushing against a deal with Hamas that ends the war in Gaza before the terror group has been toppled.

“The idea that we will stop the war before achieving all its aims is not an option,” Netanyahu tells the hawkish Gvura and Tikva forums, who represent families of slain soldiers and families of hostages held in Gaza, respectively. “We will enter Rafah and we will eliminate the Hamas battalions there — whether or not there is a deal — in order to achieve total victory.”

According to a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office, the groups urged Netanyahu and National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi to continue the war and to resist international pressure.

The meeting comes before Netanyahu is slated to talk with National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who is also opposed to stopping the war and making concessions to Hamas.