“Whether with or without” consent
Israel wants to launch the Rafah offensive against the wishes of the USA
March 22, 2024, 7:34 a.m
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Washington is trying to dissuade Israel from a ground offensive in Rafah and is apparently running into trouble. According to a minister, the Israeli government is firmly committed to the operation – even if it leads to a rift with its most important ally.
Israel’s army will carry out the planned military offensive in the refugee-filled city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip, even without US approval, according to a senior minister. “If you leave four battalions (of the Islamist Hamas) in Rafah, you have lost the war, and Israel will not lose the war,” Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer said on the American-Israeli’s “Call Me Back” podcast. Canadian columnist and political consultant Dan Senor. “With or without the United States, we will not do it. We have no choice,” Dermer continued.
The USA wants to dissuade Israel from a ground offensive on Rafah on the border with Egypt. An Israeli delegation will travel to Washington next week at the request of the US government. According to reports, Israel’s most important ally wants to show alternatives to a ground offensive. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in his own words, has already made it “clearly clear” to US President Joe Biden that his government is determined to destroy the last remaining battalions in Rafah. This is the only way to sustainably defeat and disempower Hamas.
“It will happen even if Israel is forced to fight alone. Even if the whole world turns against Israel, including the United States, we will fight until the battle is won,” said Dermer, who was reportedly part of the delegation will be in Washington.
Long gun wish list for Washington
According to a media report, the delegation will also present a long wish list of US weapons to the US allies during their visit. As the news portal “Axios” reported on Thursday (local time), citing two Israeli and US officials, Israel wants to quickly receive these weapons from its ally. This is not just supplies for the war in the Gaza Strip, which has been going on for more than five months, but also long-term needs, including the purchase of additional F-35 and F-15 fighter jets. Israel wants to speed up the supply of these aircraft and other weapons systems from the USA, it said.
However, US arms deliveries to Israel are increasingly being questioned critically in the USA, reported “Axios”. Galant recently committed itself in a letter to the US government to only use US weapons in accordance with international law. The USA is Israel’s most important ally. But in view of the increasing number of civilian casualties and the threat of famine in parts of the embattled Gaza Strip, the USA is now increasing pressure on Israel.
UN Security Council votes on call for ceasefire
In Rafah, it is estimated that 1.5 million of Gaza’s 2.2 million residents are currently seeking shelter in a small area from the fighting in other parts of the coastal area. The border crossing with Egypt, through which aid deliveries reach Gaza, is also located in Rafah. The USA considers a ground offensive there to be wrong and fears devastating consequences.
According to diplomats, the UN Security Council is expected to vote this Friday on a draft resolution introduced by the US calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire. In an apparent reaction to the US resolution, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, wrote on Platform X: “There is only one formula for an immediate ceasefire – Hamas must release the hostages and turn themselves in. That’s it , what the world should demand.”