Israeli media mocks Netanyahu's plot to 'contain Hamas' in Rafah

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
3 Apr 2024 09:45
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Israeli occupation media casts doubt on the ability of the Israeli army to achieve a real decisive victory, one that reflects a tangible 'victory' on the ground, by entering the city of Rafah in southern Gaza Strip.

Israeli occupation forces take up position as they enter the UNRWA HQ, on Thursday, February 8, 2024. (AP)

Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's theory of "containing Hamas," was mocked by Israeli newspaper Haaretz, especially after Netanyahu stated that a military aggression through a ground operation in Rafah may be necessary to practically achieve that theory.

Haaretz argued that even after the supposed entry into Rafah and the "intensive killing" carried out by "Israel", Hamas is expected to maintain between 40,000 and 50,000 fighters, constituting a permanent threat to any settler Israeli occupation force in the Gaza Strip.

That being said, the Haaretz report suggested the situation in the Gaza Strip, at best for "Israel", following an invasion into Rafah, will resemble that of the occupied West Bank.

This means that the mere presence of a single Resistance fighter carrying a weapon, or any Palestinian defending themselves against the occupation with something as banal and available as scissors or a knife, is enough to undermine the Israeli occupation's sense of security, according to Haaretz.

The Israeli website concluded its report by questioning the potential price "Israel" might pay upon invading Rafah, including losing all remaining Israeli captives, potentially the capture of more Israeli occupation forces, and more deaths among Israeli soldiers during the invasion.

It is important to note that the report made no mention and was not the least concerned with the genocide that 1.4 million Palestinians might face in Rafah during the invasion.

US and 'Israel' agree on 'objective to see Hamas defeated in Rafah'

The White House announced, on Monday, that the Israeli occupation, in its planned offensive in the densely populated city of Rafah, will take "into account" US concerns, as regional tensions escalate.

This was revealed after the US and "Israel" convened the Strategic Consultative Group (SCG) wherein the two held a two-hour videoconference which was attended by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on the American side, with Sullivan's Israeli counterpart Tzachi Hanegbi and the Israeli occupation's Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer.

According to the White House statement, the videoconference resulted in "constructive engagement on Rafah," explaining that "the US side expressed its concerns with various courses of action in Rafah," and in turn, "the Israeli side agreed to take these concerns into account and to have follow up discussions between experts, overseen by the SCG."

The statement further stressed that the discussions could be taking place in person as early as next week, especially given that the two have "agreed that they share the objective to see Hamas defeated in Rafah."