Israel threatens ground offensive in Rafah, southern Gaza; met with international opposition (The Hill, Jerusalem Post, Al Jazeera)
Israel continues operations around Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, draws condemnations (CNN)
Russia and China veto US-sponsored UN Security Council resolution calling for ceasefire (AP News)
Netanyahu says will enter Rafah with or without US support after meeting Blinken (The Hill)
Biden admin warns Israel that Rafah invasion risks humanitarian crisis, isolation (Al Jazeera)
According to The Hill, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated after meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that Israel will proceed with a ground offensive against Hamas in the southern Gaza city of Rafah whether or not the US supports this action. Netanyahu said Israel has no way to fully defeat Hamas without eliminating their remaining forces in Rafah. However, Blinken warned that Israel risks losing credibility and getting “stuck in Gaza” without a coherent strategy.
CNN reported that Palestinians fleeing the Israeli military’s ongoing raid on Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City described horrific scenes. They alleged being stripped and interrogated by Israeli soldiers, seeing dead bodies and body parts strewn in the streets, and having to abandon injured relatives inside the hospital. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claimed they are targeting Hamas militants using the hospital for operations.
Russia and China vetoed a US-proposed UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and release of remaining hostages, AP News stated. The US resolution represented a shift in only loosely tying the ceasefire to the hostage release. But Russia and China criticized the language as politicized and ambiguous.
According to The Hill, Netanyahu doubled down on plans for a Rafah ground offensive after meeting Blinken, who warned entering Rafah risks further isolating Israel and jeopardizing its security. Blinken said while the US shares the goal of defeating Hamas, Rafah invasion is the wrong approach. He would not provide details on ceasefire and hostage talks.
Al Jazeera reported the White House strongly warned Israel against invading Rafah, saying it would worsen the humanitarian crisis and civilian deaths. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said President Biden told Netanyahu that a “coherent strategy” is required to defeat Hamas, not a major Rafah assault. But Netanyahu and Biden’s relationship is said to be strained.
Jerusalem Post stated Israel has threatened for weeks to launch an imminent operation in Rafah to eliminate Hamas’ remaining forces. But the US and international community are raising alarms about military action in Rafah. Netanyahu wants to show the operation is needed to rescue hostages, secure Gaza’s border with Egypt, and prevent attacks. Yet critics argue entering Rafah risks a humanitarian catastrophe with over 1 million displaced Palestinians sheltering there.
According to the Modern War Institute, Israel’s threats to invade Rafah are rupturing its vital relationship with Egypt. The article argues that launching a Rafah operation would damage Israel’s security in both the short and long term by alienating a crucial regional partner. Even if it brings some tactical gains, the strategic costs of losing Egypt’s cooperation on security exceed any benefits. The article likens the risks of the Rafah invasion to surpassing the “culminating point of victory” described by Clausewitz, after which military advances become politically counterproductive.
In summary, these articles highlight differing perspectives on the escalating crisis regarding Israel’s threats to invade Rafah. While Israel claims the operation is essential to defeat Hamas and stop attacks, critics warn of humanitarian fallout, damage to Israel’s credibility and relationships, and the lack of a long-term strategy. Tensions are rising as international pressure mounts on Israel to avoid another ground offensive in Gaza.