From the Liveblog of
Thursday, May 9, 2024
Hagari: IDF has the weapons it needs for upcoming missions, including in Rafah
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
Responding to a question at a press conference, IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari says the military has enough munitions for the missions it has planned, after US President Joe Biden threatened that some arms shipments would be frozen if Israel launches a planned offensive in southern Gaza’s Rafah.
“The IDF has armaments for the missions it is planning, and also for the missions in Rafah. We have what we need,” he says.
The IDF’s operation in Rafah has been limited to just the eastern outskirts of the city, and not the entire city where more than one million Palestinians are sheltering.
“The US has so far provided security assistance to the State of Israel and the IDF in an unprecedented manner during the war,” Hagari says.
Highlighting the coordination between the militaries, he says IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi speaks with US CENTCOM chief Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla every day.
“Even when there are disagreements between us, we resolve them behind closed doors,” Hagari says.
“Israel has security interests, but we are also aware of the interests of the US, and that’s how we will continue to act,” he adds.
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