Netanyahu does not intend to abandon operation in Rafah

(Patria) - More and more people are joining calls for Israel not to enter Rafah, a place where one and a half million Palestinians have found shelter amid Israeli attacks.

- We will finish the job in Rafah, and we will enable the civilian population to get out of the way - said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a video address to the pro-Israeli AIPAC conference in Washington.

Netanyahu's comments come at a time when EU leaders are planning to call on Israel not to launch a ground operation in Rafah, according to a draft text of conclusions for the upcoming summit seen by Reuters.

"The European Council calls on the Israeli government to refrain from a ground operation in Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians are currently seeking protection from fighting and access to humanitarian aid," the conclusions state.

The text will require the approval of all 27 national EU leaders to be adopted at the summit on March 21 and 22.