Israeli military says it has weapons it needs for Rafah ground operation

Israel’s military spokesman says the army has the weapons it needs to press ahead with its offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari was asked at a news conference whether the army can conduct the operation without U.S. arms. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told Israel’s “enemies and friends” that it would do whatever necessary to achieve its war aims in Gaza and the north, in an apparent response to U.S. pressure to halt its operation in Rafah. In a comment on X, formerly Twitter, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reposted comments from his speech on the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day. “I say to the world leaders, no pressure, however heavy, no decision by any international forum, will deter Israel from defending itself. If Israel is forced to stand alone, it will do so,” Netanyahu said.

Quick Read

Israel Asserts Self-Reliance Amid U.S. Weapons Halt Threat

• Military Readiness: Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari has confirmed that Israel possesses sufficient weaponry to continue its military operations in Rafah, Gaza, asserting autonomy in the face of international pressure.
• U.S.-Israel Tensions: This assertion follows President Joe Biden’s decision to withhold the supply of offensive weapons to Israel if it proceeds with a major assault on Rafah, aiming to mitigate potential civilian casualties. Despite this, Hagari emphasizes that the U.S.-Israel relationship remains robust, advocating for any disagreements to be settled privately.
• Defiant Leadership: Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have both issued strong statements affirming Israel’s resolve to pursue its military objectives irrespective of external pressures. Netanyahu’s statement underscores Israel’s preparedness to act independently if necessary, reflecting a significant standoff with the U.S. regarding military strategy in Gaza.
• Strategic Operations: The Israeli military continues its strategic positioning around Rafah and maintains active engagement with Hezbollah along the Lebanon border, indicating ongoing comprehensive defense actions despite the current geopolitical and diplomatic tensions.

The Associated Press has the story:

Israeli military says it has weapons it needs for Rafah ground operation

Newslooks- JERUSALEM (AP) —

Israel’s military spokesman says the army has the weapons it needs to press ahead with its offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari was asked at a news conference whether the army can conduct the operation without U.S. arms.

“The army has armaments for the missions it plans, and for the missions in Rafah too — we have what we need,” Hagari said. Hagari spoke after U.S. President Joe Biden said he would not supply offensive weapons that Israel could use to launch an all-out assault on Rafah — the last major Hamas stronghold in Gaza — over concerns for the civilians there. Hagari said relations with the U.S. remain close, and that disagreements should be resolved behind closed doors.

Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told Israel’s “enemies and friends” that it would do whatever necessary to achieve its war aims in Gaza and the north, in an apparent response to U.S. pressure to halt its operation in Rafah.

The comments, at a ceremony to commemorate Israel’s war dead, followed Biden’s warning that the United States would halt weapons supplies if Israel moved into Rafah, the southern Gaza city where more than a million displaced Palestinians are sheltering.

“I turn to Israel’s enemies as well as to our best of friends and say – the State of Israel cannot be subdued,” he said, according to remarks released by his office. “We will stand strong, we will achieve our goals – we will hit Hamas, we will hit Hezbollah, and we will achieve security.”

The comments, from one of the war cabinet ministers considered to be most sensitive to the risk of alienating the United States, underlined the scale of the standoff between the Biden administration and the Israeli government.

In a comment on X, formerly Twitter, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reposted comments from his speech on the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day.

“I say to the world leaders, no pressure, however heavy, no decision by any international forum, will deter Israel from defending itself. If Israel is forced to stand alone, it will do so,” Netanyahu said.

Britain’s Sky News said a source close to the Israeli leader told the broadcaster that Biden’s weapons threat “practically buries a hostage deal at this point”.

Israeli tanks seized control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt earlier this week and are currently probing the outskirts of the nearby city of Rafah.

Netanyahu has defied mounting international pressure to agree to a ceasefire but has not so far ordered troops to enter the city, where Israel says four battalions of Hamas fighters are based.

In the north, Israeli forces have been engaged in exchanges of fire across the Lebanon border with forces of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia ever since the start of the war in Gaza last October.

“We have no choice, we have no other country. We will do whatever is necessary, and I repeat – whatever is necessary, in order to defend the citizens of Israel, to remove the evil threats against us, and to stand up to those who attempt to destroy us,” said Gallant, at the ceremony.

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