Netanyahu promises ‘safe passage’ to Rafah citizens, disputes Gaza toll
Israel will enter Rafah in southern Gaza despite widespread concerns over the potential toll, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a television interview broadcast Sunday, and vowed to provide “safe passage” to civilians from the overcrowded city.
“Victory is within reach. We are going to do this. “We’re going to get the remaining Hamas terrorist battalions in Rafah, which is the last bastion,” Netanyahu told ABC News in excerpts of a “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” interview released Saturday evening.
Despite international concern over the possibility of a massacre at a site home to more than half of the Gaza Strip’s 2.4 million people, Netanyahu said: “We are going to do this while providing safe passage for the civilian population.”
However, it is unclear where the large number of people at the Egyptian border, many of whom are sheltering in makeshift tents, will go.
Gaza’s Hamas rulers have warned of potentially “tens of thousands” of casualties in Rafah, while EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell joined other international voices in saying the offensive there would amount to “an unspeakable humanitarian catastrophe.” “
Israel’s main supporter, the United States, has said it does not support a ground attack in Rafah, warning that, if not properly planned, such an operation risks “disaster”.
When pressed about where the population should go, Netanyahu said: “You know, the areas we cleared north of Rafah, there are a lot of areas. But, we are working on a detailed plan.
“Those who say we should not enter Rafah under any circumstances are basically saying, ‘Lose the war. Keep Hamas there,'” the prime minister said.
The health ministry in Gaza says at least 28,064 people, mostly women and children, have been killed in the massive Israeli offensive since October 7.
But Netanyahu insisted on ABC that the total number of civilian deaths was dramatically lower.
“I can tell you that according to these urban warfare experts and other commentators, we have brought the ratio of civilian-to-terrorist casualties down to 1 to 1… and we are going to do more. ,
He said Israeli forces “killed and wounded more than 20,000 Hamas militants, of whom approximately 12,000…were combatants.” Netanyahu did not explain how he distinguished between “terrorists” and “combatants”.
Israel last provided such figures on January 9, when it said some 9,000 Hamas fighters had been killed.
Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7 killed about 1,160 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP report based on official figures.
In early January, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said it had “repeatedly highlighted Israel’s recurring failures to uphold the basic principles of international humanitarian law: distinction, proportionality, and precautions in carrying out attacks.” “
US President Joe Biden, in his strongest criticism of Israel yet, on Thursday described the Israeli military response as “over the top”.
Netanyahu told ABC News that he appreciated the “support for Israel from the very beginning of the war” but that he “doesn’t know what they mean by it.”
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – AFP)