Oldsailor65 Loc: Iowa

Netanyahu Tells Blinken That Israel Will Launch Rafah Offensive ‘Alone’ If US Opposes
https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/netanyahu-tells-blinken-that-israel-will-launch-rafah-offensive-alone-if-us-opposes-5613587?utm_source=RTNews&src_src=RTNews&utm_campaign=rtbreaking-2024-03-23-1&src_cmp=rtbreaking-2024-03-23-1&utm_medium=email&est=AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAd+c5exoe3sjGzLQDv2xVRbd1xkNWNbZOh4HFRCAK5tFyB8o%3D

The Israeli leader has rejected State Secretary Antony Blinken’s plea not to launch a major military ground operation in Rafah.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told visiting State Secretary Antony Blinken on Friday that Israel could launch a ground offensive in Gaza’s southernmost city Rafah “alone” without U.S. backing.

Mr. Blinken met with the Israeli leader in Tel Aviv on March 22 and urged Israel not to invade Rafah, saying that such an action “risks wreaking greater havoc.”

“As we’ve said, though, a major military ground operation in Rafah is not the way to do it,” Mr. Blinken said at a press conference in Tel Aviv.

“It risks k*****g more civilians, it risks wreaking greater havoc with the provision of humanitarian assistance, it risks further isolating Israel around the world and jeopardizing its long-term security and standing.”

The State Department said that Mr. Blinken also discussed with Mr. Netanyahu efforts to reach a deal for a six-week ceasefire that would secure the release of hostages and a surge in humanitarian aid to Gaza.

However, Mr. Netanyahu stated on X that he had conveyed to Mr. Blinken during the meeting that there was no way to defeat Hamas without entering Rafah and eliminating the remnant of the battalions there.

“I told him that I hope we would do this with U.S. support but if necessary—we will do it alone,” the Israeli leader stated.

“I also told him that we recognize the need to evacuate the civilian population from the combat zones and—of course—also see to the humanitarian needs, and we are working to this end,” he added.

Palestinians look at a residential house destroyed in an Israeli strike in Rafah, Gaza Strip, on Feb. 5, 2024. (H**em Ali/AP Photo)
The Biden administration has been urging Israel to refrain from launching a major offensive in Rafah until a plan for the mass evacuation of civilians from the last area of Gaza is created. More than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million people are sheltering in the Rafah area.

The United States has submitted a draft resolution to the U.N. Security Council calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza in exchange for the release of hostages, but the resolution was vetoed by China and Russia.
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The v**e in the 15-member council was 11 members in favor and three against, including Algeria, the Arab representative on the council. There was one abstention, from Guyana.

Explaining his veto decision on Friday, Russian U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said this latest U.S.-backed ceasefire resolution does not explicitly order a ceasefire, but merely states that such a ceasefire is “imperative.” Mr. Nebenzia said this language is “not enough” and the council must “demand a ceasefire.”

According to a U.N. summary, the U.S. resolution “makes imperative an immediate and sustained ceasefire,” says Israel and all other armed groups in the conflict must comply with international law and protect humanitarian workers, and calls for expanded humanitarian assistance in Gaza.
The U.N. summary states the resolution also directly condemns “all acts of terrorism including the Hamas-led attacks of 7 October, the taking and k*****g of hostages, murder of civilians, sexual violence and condemns the use of civilian buildings for military purposes.”

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Additionally, the U.S.-backed resolution demands the Hamas terrorist group allow humanitarian organizations access to all remaining hostages it’s holding in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas fighters k**led some 1,200 people in the Oct. 7 attack into southern Israel that triggered the war and abducted another 250 people. Hamas is still believed to be holding some 134 people hostage.

In Gaza, the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry raised the death toll in the territory Thursday to nearly 32,000 people. The agency does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count but says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead.

I agree with Netanyahu. Israel didn't start this war the ****ing Muslim trash did. There was a cease fire until the Muslims broke it and attacked Israel on Oct 7th.

saltwind 78 Loc: Murrells Inlet, South Carolina

saltwind 78 Loc: Murrells Inlet, South Carolina

Old, I agree with you up to a point. This was a planned attack by Hamas. It was brutal, and barbaric in its cruelty. Hamas knew what they were doing. Israel was founded as a refuge for Jews that were escaping persecution in Europe, and around the world. The motto of the country was, and is "never again". Hamas knew this and decided to attack innocent Israelis attending a peace concert. Many people believe that this act of war was meant to cause problems between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Hamas dug hundreds of miles of tunnels throughout Gaza, especially around crowded civilian centers like hospitals, Mosques, and schools. They were used as command centers, armories, and launching points for rockets being launched into Israel. Hamas built these tunnels as a human shield.
Having said that, I can not overlook the high casualty rate among civilians in Gaza caused by very heavy bombing of the tunnels. Most of these civilians had nothing to do with the attack on Israelis. Israel could attack Hamas without k*****g all these civilians, but that would be at a much higher cost of the lives of IDF soldiers. I don't know what the answer is, but Hamas must be defeated if Israel wants to live in peace. Hamas has proudly declared that it fully intends to launch more and more attacks on Israel.
Biden has changed his mind from absolute support of Israel to a demand that Israel stop the war against Hamas. No doubt this is to placate the Muslims in Michigan which is needed to win the p**********l e******n.

Oldsailor65 Loc: Iowa

Hamas like a disease needs to be eradicated with prejudice for horrible disease it is.

Jim0001 Loc: originally from Tennessee, now Virginia, USA

They should be eradicated from the face of the earth. There are no innocent muslim adults in Gaza or the world for that matter. Their idea of coexistence is to eradicate anyone who is not a member of their cult. They put Hamas in charge of Gaza and now should reap what they sow. Israel has been their benevolent benefactor providing them with electricity and the means to grow food and this is how they show gratitude. K**l them all, God will sort them out!

Oldsailor65 Loc: Iowa

The 2 most destructive men to humanity in history have been Mohamed for the creation of Islam and Carl Marx for the creation of Marxism.

Jim0001 Loc: originally from Tennessee, now Virginia, USA

Kevyn

Let him do so alone, send the military aid to Ukraine and pull our carrier battle group and send it to Taiwan. Netanyahu can deal with Iran on his own if he chooses to continue his genocide.

Oldsailor65 Loc: Iowa

I expect to see Marxism "CCP" and Islam combine after Trump is re elected to attempt to create another Civil War to destroy the USA and blame it on Donald Trump. They will use B*M and A****a and probably new even deadlier alphabet organizations. And....the stupid "America/Trump hating" Democrats will go along with them as well as the f**e news media. It is gonna' be bad bloody, destructive and dangerous.

The USA has been under attack by the CCP for years but the politicians aint smart to realize it.
We are at war with China who owns the White House and the DC Swamp.

Oldsailor65 Loc: Iowa

Stick to something you may know sumpthn' bout........like driving yer "bumper car" or "go cart".

BIRDMAN

Why To Taiwan is brandon starting yet another war

Sonny Magoo Loc: Where pot pie is boiled in a kettle

...another expansionist denier.

Calconserv

Exactly!

martsiva

Ok. Why does Israel need US backing? What kind of backing do they want??

Jim0001 Loc: originally from Tennessee, now Virginia, USA

Basically, Israel has asked to BUY armaments, unlike Ukraine who wants a handout!