PM says he told Blinken Israel must go into Rafah and will do it without US support if necessary

After his meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu doubles down on the message he has expressed in recent days — we will happily work with the US on improving the humanitarian situation and evacuating civilians from Rafah, but the IDF will go into the southern Gaza city.

“I told him that I deeply appreciate the fact that for more than five months, we have stood together in the war against Hamas,” says Netanyahu in a video.

“I told him that we recognize the need to evacuate the civilian population for the war zone and of course to take care of humanitarian needs, and we are working on that,” he continues.

“But I also told him that we don’t have a way to defeat Hamas without going into Rafah, and eliminating the remaining battalions there. And I told him that I hope that we will do it with America’s support, but if we need, we will do it alone,” he concludes.