Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir threatened Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to stop the war in Gaza, the Times of Israel reports.
"If the prime minister decides to end the war without a large-scale offensive in Rafah to defeat 'Hamas,' he will not have the mandate to continue serving as prime minister,'' he warned on the social network H.
Yesterday, the Israeli army withdrew from the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis, although Defense Minister Yoav Galant clarified that the move was in preparation for the Rafah operation.
Israel's allies have repeatedly urged Netanyahu not to attack Rafah, where more than a million displaced people from other parts of the devastated enclave have sought refuge.
However, Netanyahu was adamant that, despite growing international pressure, Israel will not succumb to the "extreme" demands of the Islamist rulers of Gaza.
The war broke out after, on October 7, fighters of "Hamas" attacked communities in southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking over 250 hostages.
More than 33,100 Palestinians died after Israeli forces invaded the Palestinian enclave in response.