Israeli Defense Minister Galant’s Threat to Occupy Rafah Soon
Israeli Defense Minister Gallant Warns of Impending Military Operation in Gaza
Israeli Defense Minister Gallant has issued a warning of a possible strong military operation in Rafah and other parts of the Gaza Strip in the near future. According to reports in the Yediot Ahronot newspaper, Gallant made this statement during an inspection of soldiers in the Netzarim Corridor controlled by the Israeli army.
“We have observed worrying indications that Hamas does not intend to reach any agreement on the prisoner exchange. This means a strong military operation in Rafah and other parts of the Gaza Strip very soon,” Gallant said in his speech.
The prisoner exchange talks are currently being discussed in Cairo under the mediation of Egypt and Qatar. Israel has declared that it will not send a delegation to Cairo without responding to Hamas’ ceasefire offer and does not agree to end the war.
Despite warnings from the international community, senior figures in Israel, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, continue to assert their plans for a land attack on Rafah, where approximately 1.5 million Palestinians have sought shelter.
Hamas is demanding assurance of a permanent ceasefire as part of the prisoner exchange agreement to be signed. Israeli authorities report that there are more than 130 Israeli prisoners in the Gaza Strip, some alive and some dead.
The Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s armed wing, has announced that the number of Israeli prisoners killed in Israel’s attacks on Gaza has exceeded 70. Relatives of Israeli prisoners and their supporters warn that an attack on Rafah would disregard the lives of the prisoners.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire, with more than 34,000 Palestinians, including over 24,000 women and children, reported dead in Israel’s attacks since October 7. Israel is facing charges of “genocide” at the International Court of Justice for its actions in the Gaza Strip.
