Gantz threatens Rafah invasion by Ramadan

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
19 Feb 2024 08:29

The Muslim holy month of Ramadan is set to commence in early March this year, and is synonymous with several occasions that Muslims celebrate.

Benny Gantz in the settlement of “Rishon LeZion”, south of “Tel Aviv”, on February 1, 2024. (AFP via Getty Images)

Israeli war cabinet Minister, Benny Gantz, issued a warning on Sunday, stating that if Israeli captives are not released, there is a threat of an invasion of Rafah city during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

“I say this very clearly: Hamas has a choice. They can surrender, release the hostages, and this way, the citizens of Gaza can celebrate the holy holiday of Ramadan,” Gantz said during a news conference in al-Quds.

Former Security Minister Benny Gantz mentioned that the potential invasion of Rafah would be coordinated with "our American and Egyptian partners to minimize civilian casualties," as reported by The Times of Israel newspaper.

The holy month of Ramadan is set to commence in early March this year, and the month is synonymous with several occasions that Muslims celebrate. Gantz's recent threat comes as "Israel" severely restricts the entry of Palestinian Muslims to one of their holiest sites, the al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied al-Quds.

Earlier on Sunday, unconfirmed reports by the Israeli Channel 13 mentioned that Netanyahu has yielded to the demands of Ben-Gvir to limit the access of worshippers from the '48 occupied territories to al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan. The measure comes hand in hand with increased systematic oppression of Palestinians in the occupied territories, including wide-scale detention campaigns and assassinations against Palestinians in the West Bank.

Israeli operation on Rafah to be devastating for civilians: UN chief

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres lamented on Friday the situation in Rafah and warned that any plans for an offensive on Rafah would be devastating for the area that now holds 1.5 million people displaced from elsewhere in Gaza.

"Nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people in Israel’s military response," he underlined.

"The situation in Gaza is an appalling indictment of the deadlock in global relations. The level of death and destruction is shocking in itself," the UN chief added at the Munich Security Conference.

Commenting on regional developments, he highlighted that the war was "also spilling over borders across the region and affecting global trade. The humanitarian aid operation is now on life support. It is barely functioning."

"Rafah is at the core of the entire humanitarian aid operation," he warned again. "An all-out offensive on the city would be devastating for Palestinian civilians who are already on the edge of survival."

It is worth noting that "Israel" announced earlier this month plans to invade the city of Rafah in Gaza's far south, where more than one million Palestinians have sought refuge.

Netanyahu's diabolical plan for Rafah has been the center of rejection and backlash among Arab and Western parties.