Netanyahu: We will attack Rafah with or without the US

(Patria) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken today that Israel is ready to continue the "war against Hamas" alone, without American support.

Blinken met one-on-one with Netanyahu to secure the delivery of more food to the Gaza Strip. This is his sixth tour of the Middle East since the war began on October 7, 2023.

Netanyahu told Blinken that he appreciates American support for Israel's fight against Hamas and understands the need to protect civilians. However, he reiterated that Israel will carry out a ground attack on Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, where more than a million Palestinians have taken shelter.

- I also said that we cannot defeat Hamas without going into Rafah and eliminating the remaining battalions there. And I told him that I hope we will do this with US support, but if we have to - we will do it alone - Netanyahu said in a video address to journalists.

Israel claims that Rafah is the last refuge for Hamas militants and plans to evacuate civilians before the ground attack.

Washington believes that a ground offensive would be a "mistake" and would cause too much harm to the people who have taken shelter there.