Yesterday, Israel made once again clear that it will defy growing international pressure and it is going to start ground offensive against Hamas in densely populated Rafah in Southern Gaza. Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer said that Israeli forces will invade Rafah “even if the whole world is against Israel, including the United States.” (1) After meeting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel will enter Rafah with or without support of the USA (2).
As the USA is going to start to build a temporary makeshift port in order to deliver humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza, it has now been revealed that Prime Minister Netanyahu has other plans for the port. According to Israeli media, Netanyahu said at a private meeting of Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Security Committee that the port could be used to remove Palestinians from Gaza to other countries, if other countries will accept the refugees. President Biden has given an impression that the temporary port was his idea. However, Netanyahu suggested to Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides on the 31st of October, last year, that a route for “maritime humanitarian aid” should be established between Cyprus and Gaza – so, this suggestion was made only three weeks after the war against Hamas started. Netanyahu reportedly talked about the idea with Biden on the 19th of January, this year. (3, 4)
References:
(1) “Israel minister: We will invade Rafah even if the whole world is against us” Middle East Monitor 22.3.2024
(2) “Netanyahu says Israel will enter Rafah with or without US support” The Hill 22.3.2024
https://thehill.com/policy/defense/4549655-israel-gaza-netanyahu-enter-rafah-with-or-without-us
(3) “War on Gaza: Netanyahu ‘suggests new US-built port could help deport Palestinians'” Middle East Eye 20.3.2024
(4) “War on Gaza: Israel is dragging the US into a future regional war” Middle East Eye 21.3.2024
https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/war-gaza-israel-dragging-us-regional-war
IDIS Observer 