Netanyahu vows to invade Rafah ‘with or without a deal’ as cease-fire talks with Hamas continue
I’m joined on the set by our
International Affairs commentator Doug
Herbert what are the obstacles still
lying in the way of a ceasefire well
perhaps one of the most massive
obstacles has just come through in the
past few minutes we have had a uh
reportedly a very declarative statement
from Netanyahu that Israeli troops will
at some point Enter Rafa the
southernmost Bastion the last City still
standing in in in Gaza essentially with
or without a Gaza truce this whole
truths at least from the US perspective
and a lot of the Arab nations are built
on the presumption
that a truce would essentially uh put
inance any plans to invade a ground
invasion of Rafa that has been the big
bogey man here and look it it it
underscores the overall contradiction uh
dividing uh both Hamas on one side and
Israel and its prime minister and it’s
his Coalition on the other side what
does Hamas want Hamas wants to be able
to preserve itself in some way shape or
form perhaps as a fighting force as a
military force uh when and if this war
eventually ends uh is is wants exactly
the opposite it wants to obliterate
Hamas it wants to Route Hamas it wants
Hamas to no longer exist so given those
two extremely clashing clashing
objectives go one level deeper what does
Israel want Israel wants in any truth
only a very short-term ceas fire the
initial phase would call for a ceasefire
perhaps uh you know no longer than than
six weeks perhaps 40 days or so uh Hamas
wants just the opposite it is hoping
that this eventual truce will be the
very first step on route to a permanent
ceasefire so there again they have
extremely clashing objectives and I
underline the point right now that
Netanyahu is up against it with his
Coalition uh notably is secure his
far-right security minister who says who
is dead set reportedly against the
security deal and wants to go into Rafa
and his prime minister seems Seems at
this moment to be going along with him
to Echo those those sentiments what
about other Arab states some of whom
have expressed hope for a breakthrough
Saudi Arabia for example has a lot to
gain or potentially to lose what would
be a best case scenario for Saudi Arabia
or for other Arab neighbors well a best
case scenario would be some sort of uh
new allinclusive Middle East peace
structure which would bring Saudi Arabia
which had been in in the works trying to
normalize relations with the with the US
and the West um into the fold along with
potentially some other Arab states this
normalization of relations bringing them
into this what could be in a bet you
said best case scenario so I’m taking it
all the way out to The Logical extension
here uh into this sort of tripartite
Alliance that would see Israel and Saudi
Arabia and the United States all alied
all coalescing in a common cause in
Saudi Arabia’s case what they’re hoping
for is not just normalization of
relations but they want some sort of
security guarantee from the US security
guarantees a mutual defense deal if you
will against the arch enemy Iran which
also happens to be Israel’s Archen enemy
Iran pulling them into that uh right now
that is contingent on Saudi Arabia wants
to work on a pathway to a Palestinian
State we know that is absolutely for
Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right
government that is an absolute
showstopper that is a no-o the plan’s a
pathway to a two-state solution a
Palestinian State coexisting side
by-side with Israel for now at least in
the public statements from the Israelis
that is an absolute noo so that’s a best
case scenario for the Saudis and Arabs
being drawn into this normalization with
Israel normal diplomatic relations with
security guarantees from the US in
alongside Israel in a new sort of over
revamped Middle East of a completely new
topography that doesn’t look like to be
happening uh very soon or imminently to
say the least all right Doug thanks for
that France 24 is Doug Herbert
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged Tuesday to launch an incursion into the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are sheltering from the almost 7-month-long war, as cease-fire negotiations between Israel and Hamas appear to be gaining steam.
#Gaza #Netanyahu #Israel
🔔 Subscribe to France 24 now: https://f24.my/YTen
🔴 LIVE – Watch FRANCE 24 English 24/7 here: https://f24.my/YTliveEN
🌍 Read the latest International News and Top Stories: https://www.france24.com/en/
Like us on Facebook: https://f24.my/FBen
Follow us on X (Twitter): https://f24.my/Xen
Browse the news in pictures on Instagram: https://f24.my/IGen
Discover our TikTok videos: https://f24.my/TKen
Get the latest top stories on Telegram: https://f24.my/TGen