PM Netanyahu Claims Israel Is Getting Closer To Victory If Its Troops Enter Rafah

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (Source: GPO/Amos Ben Gershom)

JAKARTA - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims Israel's victory is getting closer, just weeks away from the month if they start military operations in Rafah.

Speaking to CBS News, PM Netanyahu said he would meet with staff to review the military plan, which includes the evacuation of Palestinian civilians in Gaza and operations to destroy the rest of the Hamas battalion.

The Rafah, which is located in the south of the Gaza Strip and the border with Egypt, is the destination of more than half of the 2.3 million residents of the enclave as a result of the Hamas-Israeli conflict.

Many are concerned about Israel's planned attack on Rafah, including from the United Nations and traditional Israeli allyrs, United States.

"After we start the Rafah operation, the fierce fighting phase will be over in a few weeks. Not months," Prime Minister Netanyahu said.

"Jika kami tidak mencapai kesepakatan, kami akan tetap melakukannya. Itu harus dilakukan karena kemenangan total adalah tujuan kami dan kemenangan total ada dalam lokasi," tandasnya.

PM Netanyahu further said it was unclear whether the hostage-taking deal would come from ongoing negotiations, refusing to discuss specifically but saying Hamas needed to soften its demands.

"They are on another planet. But if their situation makes sense, then yes, we will make a hostage-taking agreement. I hope so," he said.

The potential hostage-taking deal would not interfere with IDF's plans to operate in Rafah, he said, even if the plan paid off.

"If we reach an agreement (taking), it will be delayed, but it will happen," he said.

"Jika kami tidak mencapai kesepakatan, kami akan tetap melakukannya. Hal ini harus dilakukan, karena kemenangan total adalah tujuan kami, dan kemenangan total berada dalam panjang, tidak perlu berbulan-bulan, minggu-minggu lagi, setelah kami memulai operasi," terangnya.

"We're all working on it. We want it. I want it. Because we want to free the remaining hostages," continued PM Netanyahu.

"I can't tell you if we're going to achieve it, but if Hamas stops from claiming his imagination and brings them down to earth, we will achieve the progress we all want."