Undaunted by criticism about his handling of Israel’s now roughly five-month war on Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday his country will press ahead with its military offensive in the region.
Among the criticisms being raised are the rising number of civilian casualties and humanitarian concerns, include a food and medicine shortage.
Israel declared war after Hamas, which is centralized in Gaza, after the militant group launched a deadly terror attack in early October 2023.
Netanyahu said in a cabinet meeting Sunday that Israel would push into Rafah, the last relatively safe place in the tiny, crowded Gaza enclave.
“This will take several weeks, and it will happen,” he said.
However, he later reportedly told German Chancellor Olaf Scholz that Israel would not leave civilians trapped in Rafah when its forces begin their assault.
