Political and military analysts in Israel are emphasizing the pressures from the United States and regional powers to deter any military operation in Rafah, south of Gaza, during the upcoming Ramadan month.
According to Amihai Stein, the political affairs correspondent for Channel 11, the U.S. administration has conveyed a message to Israel in recent days not to engage in a ground operation in Rafah during Ramadan. Several Arab countries have also sent messages to Israel to refrain from carrying out any operations in Gaza during this holy month.
Recent intense Israeli airstrikes on homes and mosques in Rafah resulted in numerous casualties and injuries.
Reports indicate that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that a ground operation in Rafah should commence before Ramadan, indicating American approval but emphasizing the need for swift action.
Israeli Channel 13 highlighted the internal discord within the War Cabinet between Netanyahu and Chief of Staff of the Israeli Army, Hertzi Halevy. Political correspondents Moria Asraf and Lilach Borg shared intriguing quotes from a recent Cabinet meeting.
Netanyahu urged the military and security agencies to swiftly develop a plan for Rafah, emphasizing the need for coordination with Egyptian officials and recognizing political complexities. Halevy raised concerns about potential challenges, including the evacuation of over 1.3 million Gaza residents currently in Rafah, raising issues of control for the Israeli army and potential advantages for Hamas to rebuild its capabilities.
Opposition from regional countries, including Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, as well as the United States, to any operations in Rafah was also noted.
Israeli channels discussed the impact of Moody’s credit rating downgrade for Israel on the Gaza conflict, with warnings from Bank of Israel Governor Amir Baron about the high costs of war and the necessity for Israel to prioritize vital matters.
