Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing criticism from US President Joe Biden over the planned ground offensive in the city of Rafah. President Biden has publicly warned Israeli officials about proceeding with the operation without a credible plan to ensure the safety and support of over one million people, including many who have been displaced multiple times. The city of Rafah is currently crowded with refugees who have fled the violence in the north.
The president's warning comes in the wake of a deadly round of airstrikes in Rafah, which were carried out by Israel in an operation to rescue two hostages held by Hamas. Despite the successful rescue mission, President Biden is growing increasingly frustrated with Prime Minister Netanyahu. He believes that the Israeli leader is ignoring his advice and impeding efforts to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The hostage rescue operation was executed through a lightning covert raid. The hostages, Fernando Marmon and Luis Ha, who had been held by Hamas for a staggering 128 days, were found asleep on the second floor of an apartment building in the center of Rafah. The Israeli forces covered them with their bodies as fires broke out and gunshots echoed throughout the area.
While the rescue operation was successful, Palestinian officials have reported a tragic loss of life in Rafah. Approximately a hundred individuals, including women and children, were killed in the early hours of Monday morning. The Israeli military has stated that some of these casualties occurred during strikes intended to provide cover for the hostage rescue mission.
The military operation and the resulting casualties have raised concerns about the safety of the civilian population in Rafah. With 1.4 million densely packed civilians fearing an imminent ground assault by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), pressure is mounting on Israel to ensure their protection.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has defended the actions of the IDF, stating that they were targeting only military objectives of Hamas. He acknowledged the unfortunate reality that Hamas embeds itself within civilian areas, making it challenging to carry out operations without collateral damage. Nevertheless, he emphasized that the rescue of hostages remains a top priority and that Israel will continue to take the necessary actions to secure their release.
Efforts to advance negotiations for the release of hostages are expected to progress, with CIA Chief Bill Burns scheduled to meet with Israeli, Egyptian, and Qatari officials in the region. However, the extent to which Israel is willing to compromise in these negotiations remains uncertain, as Prime Minister Netanyahu has rejected Hamas' latest counteroffer.
As tensions escalate and the international community watches closely, the focus remains on avoiding further loss of civilian lives while seeking a resolution to the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
