War in opposition to Hamas: Netanyahu counters Biden – “We are very close to a victory” | EUROtoday

As of seven:07 p.m | Reading time: 4 minutes

SIsrael has been at battle in opposition to the terrorist group Hamas for 5 months. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is going through extreme worldwide criticism due to the widespread destruction within the Gaza Strip and the excessive variety of civilian casualties.

Israel's essential ally can be included. US President Joe Biden (81) mentioned that Netanyahu's actions had been “doing more harm than good” to Israel. He mentioned he wanted to “pay more attention” to the struggling of the Palestinian individuals on the US tv station MSNBC over the weekend.

In a TV interview with reporter Paul Ronzheimer for WELT, BILD AND POLITICO, Netanyahu commented on the allegations and rejected them: “If the US President means that I am pursuing a private policy against the wishes of the majority of Israelis and that these are Israel's interests harm, then he is wrong on both counts.”

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In the interview, Netanyahu was satisfied that his navy coverage was supported by an “overwhelming majority” of Israelis. “They support the measures we are taking to destroy the remaining Hamas battalions.”

On persevering with the battle in opposition to Hamas, he mentioned: “The majority of Israelis understand that if we don't do this now, then we will have a repeat of the October 7 massacre – and that is bad for Israelis, bad for Palestinians and bad for peace in the Middle East.”

The deliberate Israeli offensive on the town of Rafah within the south of Gaza can be internationally controversial. The final remaining stronghold of Hamas – and refuge for a whole bunch of 1000’s of civilians.

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Netanyahu appeared decided to start the navy offensive in opposition to Hamas in Rafah quickly, regardless of worldwide warnings: “We are very close to victory.” He mentioned: “As soon as we start military action against the remaining terrorist battalions in Rafah, it is a matter of Weeks until the intensive phase of fighting is over. Specifically, Netanyahu spoke of four to six weeks.

“We have destroyed three quarters of the Hamas battalions,” mentioned the Israeli head of presidency. Giving up now could be absurd. “It’s like leaving a quarter of ISIS in Mosul,” Netanyahu mentioned. Hamas would “reposition itself and start again.”

Netanyahu described the variety of civilians killed as “far lower” than reported by the Hamas Health Ministry. The authorities within the Gaza Strip converse of 31,000 deaths, though they don’t distinguish between terrorists and civilians. The United Nations and quite a few Arab and Western states accuse Israel of displaying too little consideration for the Palestinian civilian inhabitants within the preventing.

Netanyahu mentioned Israel's military had killed “at least 13,000 terrorists.” “The number of civilian casualties was probably a ratio of 1.5 to 1. Now it is only 1 to 1,” mentioned the Israeli Prime Minister. By this he means the ratio between terrorists and civilians killed – and that extra civilians died at the start resulting from intensive air strikes than within the present part with extra floor operations.

Israel's prime minister blamed Hamas for the deaths of Palestinian civilians. The Israeli military is coping with an enemy that’s “doing everything in its power to put civilians in danger, while we are doing everything in our power to get civilians out of harm’s way.” Before the beginning of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, the USA particularly expressed optimism that there might be a ceasefire. President Biden mentioned once more over the weekend that he needed a “ceasefire lasting several weeks.”

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However, Netanyahu was skeptical a couple of new ceasefire and a potential deal to launch the 134 hostages nonetheless held in Gaza. In the negotiating rounds, “they come away with nothing,” Netanyahu mentioned of Hamas. He assumes that the terrorists at the moment don’t wish to attain an settlement with Israel.

Netanyahu: “Their strategy is to increase international pressure on Israel and to persuade the international community to prevent Israel from bringing about the final defeat of Hamas troops.” Hamas needs to “regroup and retake the Gaza Strip and start all over again.”