Netanyahu rejects Biden's plea: Israel will attack the last refuge of millions of Palestinians

(Patria) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected US President Joe Biden's plea to abandon the planned ground attack on Rafah, the last refuge for over a million displaced people in Gaza, but also a city that Israel considers a shelter for Hamas fighters.

Netanyahu told lawmakers in parliament today that he had "made it absolutely clear to the US President that Israel is determined to finish the elimination of Hamas brigades in Rafah" and that this "can only be done by entering that territory".

The two leaders spoke yesterday, and White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Washington considers a ground attack a "mistake" and believes Israel can achieve its military objectives in another way, Hina reports.

Netanyahu confirmed there is a disagreement with the Americans on the necessity of entering Rafah, but not on the necessity of eliminating Hamas, adding that he sees no way to eliminate Hamas without destroying the remaining battalions.

Washington has launched a new diplomatic initiative for a ceasefire to release the remaining hostages, over 100 of them, after almost six months, and to deliver a larger amount of aid to the enclave and prevent starvation.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced a new visit to the Middle East, where he would meet with leaders of Egypt and Saudi Arabia and discuss the "real architecture for lasting peace".

הבהרתי לנשיא ביידן בשיחתנו, בצורה הברורה ביותר, שאנחנו נחושים להשלים את חיסול החמאס גם ברפיח. pic.twitter.com/I50Gt7XQcr

— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) March 19, 2024

Blinken has not mentioned stopping in Israel for now, and the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that they have not been informed of preparations for his visit.

According to Hamas's Ministry of Health, nearly 32,000 people have been killed in Israel's offensive on the Gaza Strip. Israel disputes this number and warns that Hamas does not provide the number of fighters killed.

The war broke out after Hamas carried out a bloody attack on villages and kibbutzim in southern Israel and a music festival on October 7, killing about 1,200 people and abducting 253.

In two ceasefires, Hamas released about 100 hostages in exchange for several hundred Palestinians from Israeli prisons. More than 100 hostages, including 19 girls and two children, are still held captive. Various reports indicate that 60 hostages have been killed.

Ceasefire negotiations will continue this week in Qatar. According to information, a six-week truce will be discussed, during which Hamas would release 40 hostages for several hundred Palestinian prisoners.

However, Hamas does not accept a temporary truce for now, but is seeking a broader plan for a complete end to the war. Otherwise, they have stated that they will not release the hostages.

In recent weeks, Israel has carried out precise attacks on the leaders of that movement. The US confirmed that Israel liquidated Marwan Issa, deputy commander of Hamas's military wing in the Gaza Strip, overnight.