Yedioth Ahronoth: Washington has lost confidence in Netanyahu’s ability to lead the Rafah operation
Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper revealed that Washington has lost confidence in the ability of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to lead a complex operation in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, that begins with the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of refugees.
The Israeli newspaper said that the administration of US President Joe Biden concluded that Netanyahu is administratively shackled or that he doesn’t want to do what is required.
Yedioth Ahronoth quoted US official as saying that a country that fails to bring 50 food trucks into northern Gaza won’t be able to evacuate and shelter about a million people.
In the same context, Yedioth Ahronoth revealed that Defense Minister Yoav Galant heard harsh words from senior officials in the US administration about Israel.
Netanyahu reiterated his intention to launch a ground operation in Rafah, despite US warnings and demands from various parties to avoid carrying out the operation, which might result in huge human losses.
Netanyahu said, “We’ll enter Rafah and achieve comprehensive victory”.
Netanyahu pledged to eliminate the head of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar.
Netanyahu’s statements came despite increasing warnings issued by the United States, which provides Israel with the strongest military, intelligence, and diplomatic support since the beginning of the war.
US Vice President Kamala Harris said, “I don’t rule out that there will be US consequences for Israel if it proceeds with the invasion of Rafah”.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had also previously warned the Israeli Defense Minister during a meeting of the dangers of invading Rafah.
US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement that Blinken “reiterated the United States’ support for ensuring the defeat of Hamas, including in Rafah, but reiterated his opposition to a large-scale ground operation in Rafah”.
Miller added that Secretary Blinken stressed the existence of alternatives other than a large-scale ground invasion of Rafah, which would better guarantee Israel’s security and protect Palestinian civilians.
