Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaled that he does not accept US President Joe Biden's statement on suspending US arms aid to Israel in the event of an attack on the city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
„As I have already said, we will fight with our claws if we have to,”, the Israeli Prime Minister said in a video message. "But we have much more resources than our claws and with the strength of our spirit, with the help of God, we will win together," Netanyahu added.
Meanwhile, a senior Israeli official said another round of Gaza cease-fire talks being held in Cairo had ended after his country expressed to mediators in the talks reservations about the proposal by the Palestinian group “Hamas” for the release of the hostages held by it, adds Reuters.
The Israeli delegation is returning from the Egyptian capital and Israel will continue its operation in Rafah and other parts of Gaza as planned, the Israeli representative added.
Joe Biden does not believe that a large-scale operation by Israeli forces in Rafah will lead to progress towards the destruction of “Hamas”, White House spokesman John Kirby said today.
He pointed out that the Palestinian Islamist group is under considerable pressure from the Israeli side. There are now better ways to go after Hamas leadership structures that have not yet been eliminated than to launch an operation that poses a significant risk to civilians, the White House spokesman added.
„The claim that we are somehow withdrawing from Israel, or that we do not want to help it defeat “Hamas” "It just doesn't ring true," Kirby emphasized.
„We still believe there is a way forward, but it will require leadership on both sides. "Both sides will need some moral courage to finally sit down at the table and make an agreement," the White House spokesman added.
In his words, the US and Israel continue to discuss alternatives to the planned major ground operation in Rafah, and he expressed hope that Israeli forces will not attack the city.
US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said that according to Washington, a major military operation in Rafah would weaken Israel's position in negotiations with “Hamas” to release hostages.
He added that the US and Israeli governments continue to work on amendments to the ceasefire proposal presented by “Hamas” and to formulate a final text of the agreement. This job is “extremely difficult,", Miller pointed out.