Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer said on Thursday that Israel is going to invade Rafah to defeat Hamas terrorists “even if the entire world turns on Israel, including the United States.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed Dermer’s statement after a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, saying “I told him that I hope we would do this with U.S. support. But, if necessary, we will do it alone.”
The strong statements have been met with divided reactions amongst U.S.political leaders, but notably, the baffling Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) has become a staunch supporter of Israel since the Oct. 7 attacks.
Hamas: cowards and rapists who hide in tunnels behind refugees.
Israel has the absolute right to pursue Hamas until it is dismantled in Rafah. Stop pretending peace in Gaza is possible without this end game. pic.twitter.com/MLqdi5Uppv
— Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) March 14, 2024
President Joe Biden has been trying to walk a middle of the road approach by expressing support for Israel on the one hand while asking for restraint on the other. Sending Antony Blinken to meet with Netanyahu was intended to convince the prime minister to take a softer approach to defeating the Hamas terrorists by simply securing the Gaza-Egypt border.
Since Israel has committed to fighting Hamas in Gaza, its position is that it cannot leave the job unfinished and must destroy the terrorist organization’s home on its borders once and for all.
So far, Israel claims to have killed 13,000 Hamas terrorists and believe that there are four remaining Hamas battalions residing in Rafah, accounting for 25% of the organization’s strength before the conflict.
With their willingness to fight alone, Israel is determined to root out the Islamic radicals’ safe havens to prevent and deter attacks like Oct. 7 in the future. Speaking of the do-or-die stakes, Dermer said, “And that’s why the determination to take them out is so strong, even if it leads to a potential breach with the United States.”
