Netanyahu approves military plans for Rafah operation, says Hamas proposal for ceasefire 'absurd'

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in Israel announced on Friday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had approved military plans for the ground incursion into the town of Rafah in southern Gaza.

Rafah is still home to four Hamas battalions and is the last main refuge of the terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip, according to Israel Defense Forces. The tunnel system underneath the city is estimated to be the hiding place of the terror group's remaining leadership, as well as where most of the Israeli hostages are being held captive.

On Thursday, Netanyahu visited the Ofer military base, where he met with commanders and soldiers from the 636th Field Intelligence Unit and promised the “complete elimination of Hamas battalions.”

“Even as you and the IDF are preparing to continue fighting, there is international pressure to prevent us from entering Rafah and completing the work,” Netanyahu said.

“As prime minister of Israel, I reject this pressure…We will enter Rafah. We will complete the elimination of Hamas's battalions. We will restore security and we will bring total victory for the people of Israel and the State of Israel.” 

Also on Friday, Netanyahu said that Israel would send a delegation to Qatar to participate in further talks in a possible deal with Hamas for the release of the hostages “once the security cabinet discusses the Israeli position.”

At the same time, the PMO said Hamas’ latest demands in the hostage release deal are “still absurd.”

“Hamas is continuing to hold to unrealistic demands,” read the PMO statement.

Recent attempts at a ceasefire, including the release of Israeli hostages, have been unsuccessful due to Hamas’ continued demand for a permanent end to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and the withdrawal of all IDF troops from the Strip.

In late February, mediators from the United States, Qatar and Egypt presented a new, more detailed framework for a deal, which included a six-week pause in the fighting, partial withdrawal from Gaza, and the release of hundreds of Palestinian terrorists in exchange for roughly 40 hostages. Israel agreed to the framework, whereas Hamas rejected it.  

On Friday, White House National Security Council Spokesman John Kirby commented on the continuing talks in the Qatari capital.

“The fact that there’s another delegation heading to Doha… the fact that this proposal is out there, that there are conversations about it, that’s all good,” Kirby said during a press briefing.

“It’s within the broad brushstrokes of the deal that we’ve been talking about,” Kirby added, announcing that the US would not be sending a delegation to the next meeting but that the administration “remains engaged on the matter.”

“We’re cautiously optimistic that things are moving in a good direction, but that doesn’t mean that it’s done, and we’re going to have to stay at this to the very, very end,” he added.

More than 130 hostages are still held by Hamas terrorists in Gaza, where they are reportedly suffering from starvation, psychological terror, and physical and sexual abuse, according to personal testimonies from hostages who were released in November.

It is unclear how many have died in captivity, as Hamas has refused to provide any detail as to the health condition of the hostages, although Israel estimates at least 25% are no longer living.

Egyptian and Qatari mediators involved in the negotiations between the two sides have reportedly sought to convince Hamas to provide Israel with the number and identities of the remaining Israeli hostages that are still alive.