Israeli Minister Ron Dermer speaks out in a US podcast in favor of enforcing the military offensive in Rafah – whatever the cost.
Israel’s army will carry out its planned military offensive in the refugee-crowded town of Rafah in the Gaza Strip, according to a senior minister, even if it leads to a rift with the United States. “If you leave four battalions (of the Islamist Hamas) in Rafah, you have lost the war, and Israel will not lose the war,” Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer said on the American-Canadian’s “Call Me Back” podcast columnist and political consultant Dan Senor.
“With or without the United States, we will not do it. We have no choice,” Dermer continued. The USA wants to dissuade Israel from a ground offensive on Rafah on the border with Egypt.
An Israeli delegation will travel to Washington next week at the request of the US government. According to reports, Israel’s most important ally wants to show alternatives to a ground offensive. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in his own words, has already made it “clearly clear” to US President Joe Biden that his government is determined to destroy the last remaining Rafah battalions. This is the only way to sustainably defeat and disempower Hamas.
1.5 million people seeking protection in Rafah
“It will happen even if Israel is forced to fight alone. Even if the whole world turns against Israel, including the United States, we will fight until the battle is won,” said Dermer, who was reportedly part of the delegation will be in Washington.
In Rafah, it is estimated that 1.5 million of Gaza’s 2.2 million residents are currently seeking shelter in a small area from the fighting in other parts of the coastal area. The border crossing with Egypt, through which aid deliveries reach Gaza, is also located in Rafah. The USA considers a ground offensive there to be wrong and fears devastating consequences.
According to diplomats, the UN Security Council is expected to vote this Friday on a draft resolution introduced by the US calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire. In an apparent reaction to the US resolution, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, wrote on the X platform (formerly Twitter): “There is only one formula for an immediate ceasefire – Hamas must release the hostages and turn themselves in . This is what the world should demand.”
Source: Stern
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