Halevi tells Netanyahu to address politics before Rafah invasion
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The Chief of Staff of the Israeli military suggests there are political dimensions that must be addressed before Netanyahu's plan to invade Rafah.
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This image grab from a handout video released by the Israeli occupation military on January 17, 2024, shows Israeli military chief Herzi Halevi speaking during a visit to northern occupied Palestine
The political commentator on the Israeli Channel 13, Moriah Asraf Wolberg, reported that Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has requested the re-enlistment of the discharged reserve forces in preparation for an anticipated operation by the Israeli military in the city of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip.
Wolberg noted that the Chief of Staff of the Israeli military, Major General Herzi Halevi, responded to Netanyahu by saying, "We will be able to handle any mission, but there are political dimensions that must be addressed first."
Meanwhile, a senior Israeli official confirmed to the Israeli channel that "the operation in Rafah is approaching."
Israeli Channel 13 also reported that Netanyahu intends to hold the security system responsible for delaying the military operation in Rafah.
Israeli media revealed on Friday that Netanyahu's orders to prepare for a military operation in Rafah have caused significant disagreements between him and the Israeli military.
According to the political analyst on the Israeli Channel 12, Yaron Avraham, "Netanyahu discussed days ago with the Chief of Staff the continuation of the military operation, where a disagreement between the two sides emerged regarding the occupation of Rafah."
He continued, "While Netanyahu is pressing the army to find quick solutions, Halevi emphasizes the need to secure conducive conditions, such as evacuating the area [Rafah] and coordinating with Egypt."
On the other hand, the political affairs analyst on Channel 12, Amnon Abramovich, said, "Netanyahu, the coward, is unable to carry out military action accompanied by political work."
"He [Netanyahu] can only continue to speak, repeating phrases like 'I gave instructions and orders for absolute victory,'" Abramovich added.
Earlier on Saturday, the Palestinian Resistance movement Hamas warned that the Israeli occupation's planned operation in overcrowded Rafah could cause "tens of thousands" of casualties in the city that has become the last refuge for displaced Gazans.
Netanyahu has ordered troops to prepare to invade Rafah, telling military and security officials late Friday to "submit to the cabinet a combined plan for evacuating the population and destroying the battalions" of Hamas in the southern city.
Hamas said in a statement that any military action would have catastrophic repercussions that "may lead to tens of thousands of martyrs and injured if Rafah... is invaded."
The US State Department has said it does not support a ground offensive in Rafah, warning that, if not properly planned, such an operation risks "disaster".
Similarly, Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi warned "another bloodbath in Gaza cannot be allowed," in a post on X.
Echoing a similar sentiment as Jordan, the Saudi Foreign Ministry warned "of the extremely dangerous repercussions of storming and targeting Rafah."
Spain and Germany also warned of a "humanitarian catastrophe" if the Israeli plan went ahead.
This comes as the Ministry of Health in Gaza highlighted on Saturday that over the past 24 hours, "Israel" committed 16 massacres in Gaza, killing 117 Palestinians and injuring 152 others, which raises the total Gazan death toll to 28,064 martyrs, with 67,611 others injured, on day 127 of the Israeli genocide.
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