Netanyahu downplays U.S. fears over Rafah
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has downplayed U.S. fears of a humanitarian catastrophe if Israel launches a planned ground invasion into Gaza’s southernmost city, saying civilians would be able to flee the fighting into other parts of the war-torn territory.
Speaking Wednesday to a bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation visiting Israel, Netanyahu said people sheltering in Rafah — now more than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million population — will be able to move away from the fighting.
“People just move, they move with their tents,” Netanyahu said. “People moved down (to Rafah). They can move back up.”
Israel says a ground offensive is needed to destroy thousands of Hamas terrorists in Rafah.
Netanyahu suggested that the dispute over Rafah was just another in a series of disagreements between the allies and that he “appreciates” President Joe Biden’s support, but that Israel will act alone “if we have to.”
Israel’s military has said it plans to direct the civilians to “humanitarian islands” in central Gaza ahead of the planned offensive.