Gallant says Rafah offensive a ‘precise operation’ in call with Blinken

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that Israel was undertaking a pinpoint operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, while indicating that Jerusalem would not be dissuaded from completing its war goals of returning the hostages and eliminating Hamas “as military and governing authority,” Gallant’s office says in a statement on the Sunday night call.

The readout says Gallant discussed “developments in Gaza, including IDF operations across the Strip in the face of terror hotspots, and the precise operation in the Rafah area against remaining Hamas battalions, while securing the crossing,” referring to the Rafah Crossing with Egypt, which Israeli troops have taken control of on the Gaza side.

In the call, Blinken had again warned Gallant against a major Israeli offensive in southern Gaza’s Rafah, according to an earlier statement issued by State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.

“The minister expressed his appreciation to Secretary Blinken for the ongoing support provided by the US administration for Israel’s security,” Gallant’s office adds.