Accepting Foreign Minister Blinken, PM Netanyahu Says Israel Will Continue To Carry Out Attacks On Rafah Even Though Not Supported By The US

JAKARTA - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the United States Secretary of State that his party would still surrender Rafah even without Washington's support.

After his meeting with Foreign Minister Blinken, PM Netanyahu repeated the message he expressed in recent days related to cooperation with Uncle Sam's country to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza and evacuate civilians from Rafah, with Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) troops continuing to enter Rafah.

"I told him, I really appreciate the fact that for more than five months, we have been united in the fight against Hamas," PM Netanyahu said in a video.

"I told him, we realized the need to evacuate civilians from the war zone and of course to meet humanitarian needs, and we are working on it," he continued.

"But I also told him that we have no way of defeating Hamas without going to Rafah, and eliminating the remaining battalions there. And I told him I hope we will do it with American support, but if necessary, we will do it ourselves."

Prime Minister Netanyahu's meeting with Foreign Minister Blinken took place on Friday at 11:20 p.m. and ended at 14:28 p.m. Tel Aviv time, as part of an intensive diplomatic push to achieve a "sustainable and immediate ceasefire" in Gaza, as well as hindering Israeli attacks on Rafah, quoted by CNN.

Foreign Minister Blinken made another visit to the Middle East this week, where he will meet senior leaders Egypt and Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries, to "discuss the right architecture for lasting peace" and increase humanitarian aid to Gaza. This is his sixth trip to the region since the latest conflict broke out on October 7 last.