In a new challenge to international pressure and efforts to stop the ceasefire in Gaza and prevent the occupation from invading Rafah, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel will continue its attack on Hamas, including the attack on Rafah city in southern Gaza.
The Prime Minister of the occupation acknowledged the international pressure on Israel, saying on Thursday, March 7, 2024: “There is increasing international pressure, but when international pressure increases specifically, we must unite, we need to stand together against attempts to stop the war.”
Netanyahu added that the Israeli occupation army would carry out counterattacks against Hamas throughout the sector, “including in Rafah, the last stronghold of Hamas.” He continued, “Anyone who orders us not to move in Rafah is ordering us to lose the war, and that will not happen.”
Netanyahu’s statements come after criticism, especially in America, due to his procrastination in reaching a ceasefire agreement in Gaza with the Islamic Resistance Movement “Hamas,” in addition to the divisions within the Israeli war government; which negatively affected the negotiation process.
Whereas Hamas said in a statement on Thursday that its delegation left Cairo while ceasefire talks in Gaza continue until an agreement is reached with Israel, while a Hamas official blamed Israel for failing all mediation efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza through Qatar and Egypt during the four-day talks hosted by Cairo.
He added in statements to Reuters that Israel rejects Hamas‘s demands “to stop the aggression and withdraw and guarantee the freedom of entry of aid and the return of refugees.”
While negotiators from Hamas, Qatar, and Egypt, without Israeli negotiators, attempted this week to reach a ceasefire for 40 days before the upcoming Ramadan, the agreement presented to Hamas included the release of some prisoners still detained after the October 7th attack. As well as the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli occupation prisons.
Hamas pledged to continue Cairo talks, but officials in the Palestinian armed movement said that the release of hostages cannot be done before a ceasefire is reached, in addition to the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and all residents of the sector can return to their homes from which they fled.
A source said earlier that Israel is not attending Cairo talks because Hamas refused to provide a list of names of hostages who are still alive. Hamas says this is impossible without a ceasefire, as hostages are located in various parts of the sector, which is witnessing ongoing fighting.
