Israel defends its decision to attack Rafah, blaming Hamas for not cooperating
(VOVWORLD) -Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the ceasefire proposed by Hamas did not meet Israel's requirements and was aimed solely at postponing Israel's attack on Rafah.
 Houses destroyed by the Hamas-Israel conflict in Rafah city, Gaza Strip, May 7, 2024. (Photo: THX/VNA) |
He said Israel cannot accept a proposal that endangers the security of its citizens and the future of the country. Explaining Israeli's planned attack on Rafah and control of the Rafah border gate, Netanyahu said this is the key to completely neutralizing Hamas's military capabilities.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the attack on Rafah will not end until Hamas is destroyed, or the first hostage is returned to Israel.
In response, Hamas official Osama Hamdan warned that if Israel's military aggression continues in Rafah, there will be no ceasefire deal. He said Hamas has made maximum concessions, which means making only minimal demands in the latest ceasefire proposal, so the fate of the hostage exchange agreement is now up to Netanyahu.