From the Liveblog of
Friday, March 15, 2024
Hebrew media calls into question Netanyahu’s declaration that he approved IDF plan for Rafah
Channel 12 and the Ynet news sites are calling into question Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claim earlier today that he had approved military operational plans for an offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
On February 9, Netanyahu’s office issued a statement saying he had “ordered the IDF to prepare for an intense operation in Rafah.”
On February 25, Netanyahu told CBS that he was meeting with IDF brass later that day to review their plan for evacuating civilians from Rafah and dismantling the remaining Hamas battalions there.
The networks indicate that despite Netanyahu’s declarations, an operation in Rafah is not imminent.
The tens of thousands of reservists who were stationed in Gaza withdrew from the Strip weeks ago, and will have to return en masse if the IDF wants to carry out a massive operation in Rafah.
During the security cabinet meeting earlier today, Hebrew media reports that New Hope chair Gideon Sa’ar asked Netanyahu for an update on Rafah, given that war cabinet minister Benny Gantz and others claimed that Israel would enter Rafah if no hostage deal was secured by Ramadan.
“We did not say that we would be in Rafah on Ramadan, we said that we will move forward according to our plans,” Netanyahu responded.
Netanyahu’s talk of an imminent operation in Rafah appears more geared toward pressuring Hamas to agree to a hostage deal.
The Times of Israel Community.