A major offensive by Israel in Rafah would cause "chaos" and "anarchy", but it would not eliminate "Hamas" warned US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, increasing the pressure on the allied country that is waging war, reported France Presse, quoted by BTA.
The plan currently being considered by Israel in Rafah "risks causing massive damage to the civilian population without solving the problem," Blinken said on NBC. According to him, Israeli intervention in Rafah would risk creating "chaos" and "anarchy" and ultimately - the return of "Hamas".
"We have seen Hamas return to areas that Israel liberated in the north, even in Khan Younis," a destroyed town near Rafah, the secretary of state said.
The United States has publicly threatened to cut off certain categories of weapons to Israel, particularly artillery shells, if Israel launches a major offensive in the overpopulated southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, which President Joe Biden opposes. Those concerns were confirmed by US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan during a meeting on Sunday with his Israeli counterpart Tzahi Hanegbi, according to a White House press release. Hanegbi has confirmed that Israel is "taking into account the concerns of the United States".
"We talked to them about a much better way to achieve a lasting result," Blinken emphasized.
When asked if the United States believes more civilians have been killed in Gaza than members of Hamas, Anthony Blinken said yes. Ministry of Health of the appointed by "Hamas" Gaza authorities reported a total of 35,034 dead in the Gaza Strip since the start of the war between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement.
The current conflict erupted on October 7 when Hamas commandos infiltrated from Gaza launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, killing more than 1,170 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP count based on official Israeli figures.< /p>
For its part, "Hamas" said today that US President Joe Biden's statements about the hostages the previous day were "an obstacle" on the ceasefire negotiations in the Gaza Strip. He earlier said a ceasefire was possible "tomorrow" if hostages held in the Gaza Strip since the Palestinian Islamist movement attacked Israel on October 7 were released. According to the Israeli army, 36 of the total 128 people held captive in Gaza are now dead.
"We condemn this position of the American president and consider it a retreat from the results of the last round of negotiations," said the statement of the Islamist movement.
At a conference of international donors held in Kuwait on Sunday, more than two billion dollars were pledged to help the Gaza Strip, which has been devastated by the more than seven-month war between Israel and Hamas. Participants in the conference, organized by the International Islamic Charity Organization and the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs, pledged that the funds would be allocated for two years, with the possibility of extension, to support vital humanitarian operations in the Palestinian territory.
Meanwhile, Israel marked yesterday the day in memory of those who died in wars and victims of terrorism, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
This year, the day of remembrance coincided with the war in the Gaza Strip after the attack by the Palestinian Islamist movement "Hamas" in Israel on October 7, 2023. Nearly 1,200 people were killed in the deadliest day in the history of the country, which was founded in 1948.
"I remind us and the whole world: we never wanted and never chose this terrible war. Neither this one, nor the previous ones," Israeli President Yitzhak Herzog said at the main ceremony at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. He warned that "as long as our enemies seek to destroy us, we will not lay down our swords."
The collar of his shirt was torn - a Jewish symbol of mourning, DPA notes.
"As commander of the Israel Defense Forces in a time of war, I bear responsibility for the failure to protect our civilians on October 7. I carry her weight on my shoulders every day and in my heart," said Chief of the General Staff Herzi Halevi.
Addressing the family members of slain Israeli soldiers, he declared: "I am the commander who sent your sons and daughter to the battle from which they never returned and to the posts from which they were abducted" in the attack on October 7.
Relatives of hostages gathered last night in front of the General Staff building in Tel Aviv. Many of them carried lighted candles and others held placards reading "We don't want any more graves".
According to official data, more than 25,000 Israeli soldiers and representatives of the security forces were killed, and 5,100 civilians died in terrorist acts, notes France Presse.