web counter
LEXO PA REKLAMA!

SHKARKO APP

App Store
Google Play

The White House: The attack on Rafah would strengthen the positions of Hamas

2024-05-10 15:45:09, Kosova & Bota CNA

The White House: The attack on Rafah would strengthen the positions of Hamas

The United States again warned Israel not to expand the limited operation in Rafah into a full-scale offensive, this time not only because of ongoing humanitarian concerns, but also for strategic reasons.

"In our judgment, a broad ground operation in Rafah would strengthen Hamas' positions at the negotiating table, not Israel's," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Thursday.

According to him, Hamas leader Yahya Sinqar, who is believed to be hiding in Gaza's network of tunnels, would be "less motivated to go to the negotiating table" if there were mass casualties in Rafah.

Earlier this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered Israeli forces to carry out a "limited operation" east of Rafah after rejecting a ceasefire deal proposal that Hamas said it had accepted.

The deal would have allowed for a temporary cessation of hostilities and the release of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israel.

On Thursday, talks in Cairo between Israel and Hamas on a ceasefire brokered by the United States, Egypt and Qatar were suspended, according to the Egyptian state news agency.

US State Department spokesman Mathew Miller told reporters on Thursday that negotiators were working to make changes to the Hamas counter-proposal, but that finalizing the text of the agreement was an "extremely difficult" process.

Israel's Foreign Minister Katz said Thursday that his country's military "will continue to fight against Hamas until the group is destroyed."

His statements were made a day after President Joe Biden said that the United States will not provide Israel with offensive weapons that it can use in Rafah, while also expressing its commitment to Israel's defense./ VOA





Lajmet e fundit nga