Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed that Israel will “stand alone” if necessary in its war against Hamas, after the United States threatened to stop sending some weapons to its ally.
President Joe Biden before said the United States would stop the supply of offensive weapons to Israel if it attacks the city of Rafah, in southern Gaza.
The Israeli prime minister said in a video statement on Thursday: “If we have to be alone, we will be alone.
“If necessary, we will fight with our nails. But we have much more than nails.
“And with that strength of spirit, with the help of God, together we will be victorious.
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An unnamed Israeli official said Israel will continue its operation in Rafah and other parts of the Gaza Strip, Reuters reported.
And the military’s top spokesman, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, said Israel’s military has the ammunition it needs for operations.
Additionally, the US State Department said it believes a major offensive in Rafah would weaken Israel’s position in the hostage talks.
Washington is discussing with the Israelis amendments to a ceasefire proposal put forward by Hamas, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said, adding that they were working to finalize the text of an agreement, but that the work was “incredibly difficult.” .
Palestinian witnesses said Israeli tanks and warplanes bombed areas of Rafah on Thursday, according to Reuters.
Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad also said their fighters fired anti-tank rockets and mortars at Israeli tanks gathered on the eastern outskirts of the city.
Israel says four battalions of Hamas fighters are hiding in Rafah, where the population has swelled with hundreds of thousands of people seeking refuge from bombing elsewhere in the Palestinian territory.
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