Netanyahu vows to ‘finish the job’ in Rafah despite warnings from US officials

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the military would “finish the job” of destroying Hamas in Gaza’s southern city of Rafah while allowing civilians to leave, despite continued warnings by US leaders not to go through with the planned offensive.

“We will finish the job in Rafah while enabling the civilian population to get out of harm’s way,” Mr Netanyahu told the Washington-based American Israel Public Affairs Committee lobby group on Tuesday.

Mr Netanyahu said the Israeli military has “taken measures to minimise civilian casualties that no other army has taken in history”.

US President Joe Biden has warned Israel not to go through with an incursion into Rafah without a clear plan to protect civilians, calling the operation a “red line” in terms of Washington’s continued support.

About 1.5 million Palestinians have sought refuge in Rafah, on Gaza’s border with Egypt, having fled their homes in other parts of the enclave during the fighting.

The White House on Monday said Israel had not presented a “credible and implementable” plan for a Rafah operation.

Mr Netanyahu has repeatedly said the southern city is one of the last remaining strongholds of Hamas, the militant group that governs Gaza.

“For Israel, every civilian death is a tragedy,” Mr Netanyahu said. “For Hamas, every civilian death is a strategy.

“So, it is wrong and immoral to hold Israel to a standard for avoiding civilian casualties that no other country on Earth is held to.

“My friends, I want to assure you, none of these pressures will stop us.”

Some Senate Democrats are calling for Mr Biden to follow through on his “red line” comment.

If Israeli troops enter Rafah, US officials told Politico that Mr Biden would consider limiting military aid.

Axios also quoted US officials as saying the Biden administration is considering restrictions on US military aid to Israel or amending American support for ceasefire resolutions at the UN if the “red line” is crossed.

Since the war began on October 7 last year, Washington has used its veto at the UN Security Council three times to curb resolutions calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

Senator Chris Van Hollen told Politico that congressional action to halt military aid is “certainly something that is on the table”.