Netanyahu's strategy in Rafah failing amid looming ICC arrest threat
3 Min Read
After the Rafah massacre, Netanyahu probably estimates gaining a point of victory on his imaginary list, but it backfires and turns words into international action.
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Palestinians displaced by the Israeli air and ground offensive on the Gaza Strip walk through a makeshift tent camp in Rafah, Gaza, Friday, May 10, 2024. (AP)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's claim last month that his cabinet was just "one step away from victory" is proven to be nothing but lip service and empty words, as his war goals are nowhere near being achieved and his last seven months of war on Gaza have left over 35,000 Palestinians killed.
After "Israel" committed the massacre of Rafah tents, which left over 45 killed, mostly burned alive, Netanyahu probably estimated gaining a point of victory on his imaginary list. However, this backfired and turned words into international action.
Colombia broke diplomatic relations, while Turkey announced a trade embargo, and more notably, Ireland, Norway, and Spain recognized a Palestinian state. The whole world spared no time to take to the streets mere hours after the Rafah massacre and call out their governments for remaining silent.
This comes amid the ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan's announcement that it is seeking arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, which Netanyahu expressed his "disgust" for.
Not only so, but his strategy both in Rafah and in Gaza, has brought internal turmoil in the cabinet.
Gallant said that "Israel" will not be ruling in Gaza and called for an "alternative government to Hamas" to be found, fostered, and installed. Netanyahu responded by saying that there should be no plan for the "day after" the war until it is won.
These two leaders of "Israel’s" war effort haven’t spoken to each other for a fortnight now. Even Benny Gantz gave Netanyahu until June to discuss a plan for the future of Gaza and if not, he threatened that he would resign. Netanyahu still refused.
A 'stalling war'
Netanyahu's war goals are just far-fetched.
Just two days ago, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid lashed out at Netanyahu, accusing him of failing in "his duty" and deeming his government "illegitimate".
"Why are you still the prime minister when you are responsible for the biggest failure in our history?" Lapid directly addressed Netanyahu as he was delivering a speech at the Knesset.
While divisions in government only grow deeper, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has ruled out a likelihood of a "complete victory" for "Israel" in Gaza.
Read next: 'Show me one thing we have succeeded in': Ben-Barak on war on Gaza
Speaking with Israeli Kan TV on May 25, Olmert said that there is no chance "to achieve complete victory or [enable] complete destruction of Hamas."
He labeled this war as a "stalling war", adding that it "does not serve any interest for Israel, but rather serves Netanyahu and some extremist members of his government."
Addressing the Israeli ground invasion in Rafah, labeled by the Israeli occupation as a "military operation", Olmert said, "The military operation in Rafah must be stopped."
For many weeks now, Israelis have been flooding the streets of Tel Aviv and several other areas, demanding new elections and that Netanyahu resign over his performance in the war on Gaza, including his continued dismissal of an exchange deal.
