Israel vows to destroy Hamas in Rafah despite US warning: ‘No force can stop us’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to “annihilate” Hamas brigades, including in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. The developments come despite U.S. warnings that Israel risks further global isolation if Rafah is attacked.

“Israel will completely eliminate the Hamas brigades, including in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, and nothing can stop this,” Netanyahu said.

“No force in the world can stop us. There are many forces trying to do it, but it will be of no avail because this enemy, after having done this, will never do it again,” the Israeli prime minister asserted.

In its response to Netanyahu’s latest statement on Tuesday, the United States further claimed that invading Rafah would be a “mistake” and demanded a credible plan to protect civilians.

Rafah provides shelter to some 1.4 million Palestinians, most of whom have been displaced from other parts of the war-torn Gaza Strip. “It will happen. There will be a date,” Netanyahu vowed, without providing any further details.

Last month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel risked further global isolation if it attacked the Palestinian city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip.

The United States made the remarks during a one-on-one interaction between Blinken and Netanyahu. “We share the goal with Israel, which is to defeat Hamas… However, launching a large-scale ground military operation in Rafah is not the way to achieve that goal,” Blinken told reporters in Tel Aviv.

“It has the potential to kill more civilians, it has the potential to cause greater disruption to the delivery of humanitarian aid, it has the potential to further isolate Israel around the world and jeopardize its long-term security and standing,” Blinken added.

Netanyahu’s comments came as Israeli negotiators were in Cairo to discuss international efforts to broker a ceasefire with Hamas.

Israeli troops withdrew from Khan Younis, another southern Gaza city, on Sunday. Palestinians who visited Khan Younis on Monday said the city was now uninhabitable and they had little hope of returning.

Defense officials said they were regrouping and preparing to attack Rafah.