'Will do it alone': Netanyahu tells Blinken on Rafah offensive
Blinken and Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday (Mar 22) that Israel, if required, will enter into the southern Gaza city of Rafah even without the backing of the United States.
During a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Tel Aviv earlier, Netanyahu conveyed Israel's stance, stating that the only way to crack down on Hamas was by confronting the militant groupwithin Rafah, a city bordering Egypt. Rafah is an important gateway for the movement of aid in and out of the Gaza Strip and the offensive might play an added hindrance to the situation there.
Netanyahu said, "I told him that I hope we will do it with the support of the US, but if we have to - we will do it alone," reported Reuters.
Blinken's visit to Israel comes amid ongoing efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza, with discussions also focusing on humanitarian concerns and the release of hostages. Following the meeting with Netanyahu, Blinken also met with the Israeli war cabinet for extensive discussions lasting approximately two and a half hours, as per reports.
Also Read |China and Russia veto US-proposed UN Gaza 'ceasefire' resolution
Before he arrived in Israel, Blinken engaged in talks in Egypt aimed at securing a cease-fire.
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During a news conference in Egypt, Blinken stated,"There’s a clear consensus around a number of shared priorities."
The negotiations have encountered a hurdle, with Hamas insisting on the release of hostages as part of a comprehensive deal to end the conflict, while Israel maintains its position for a temporary pause.
Also Read |Over 70 Rohingya refugees dead or missing after boat capsised off Indonesia coast
The situation remains dire for over a million Palestinians seeking refuge in Rafah amid escalating hostilities.
Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7 claimedthe lives of at least 1,200 people, according to Israeli authorities. There is also a substantial toll of nearly 32,000 casualties in Israel's subsequent counteroffensive in Gaza, according to figures from the Hamas-run Health Ministry.
Watch |Israel-Hamas war: Blinken meets with Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, pushes for more aid for Gaza
Efforts to pass a UN resolution calling for a ceasefire too faced a setback when China and Russia used their veto power to block a US-supported resolution at the UN Security Council. Moscow rebuked the perceived lack of pressure on Israel and deemed the resolution process a "hypocritical spectacle."
(With inputs from agencies)
Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.