:quality(85)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/infobae/EZEKHK23S5F6DJ7VUYTSXW4RZU.jpg "Netanyahu confirmed the offensive on Rafah and announced the sending of a delegation to the United States to discuss details")
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Tuesday that he plans to launch a military offensive on Rafah, a town south of Gaza, despite opposition from the international community, particularly the United States. Netanyahu stated that there are four Hamas strongholds in Rafah that need to be eradicated to prevent a future threat to Israel.
This decision goes against the stance of US President Joe Biden, who has been urging Israel to reconsider the offensive. White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan emphasized that a ground operation in Rafah would result in more civilian casualties and stressed that there are alternative ways to achieve Israel’s objectives in the area.
In response to Biden’s concerns, Netanyahu has agreed to send a delegation to the US to discuss the details of the military operation. The delegation will include Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi, and a representative from COGAT, the Ministry of Defense’s civil affairs arm.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced his upcoming sixth tour of the Middle East, with visits to Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Blinken aims to facilitate negotiations between Israel and Hamas, as efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement and provide humanitarian aid to Gaza continue.
Qatar is also playing a role in the peace talks, hosting negotiations between Israeli and Palestinian officials. However, challenges remain as consensus on the details of the plan has yet to be reached.
As tensions in the region persist, the international community continues to seek diplomatic solutions to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.