Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu vows to “fight with fingernails” if necessary after President Biden publicly warns against Rafah invasion

Tensions between Israel and the United States have reached a critical point after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that Israel would proceed with an offensive in Rafah, the densely populated city in southern Gaza, despite a public ultimatum from U.S. President Joe Biden. Biden announced that the U.S. would not provide offensive weapons if Israel pushed forward with its ground assault plans. This open confrontation between the two allies came after weeks of high-level discussions, which aimed to convince Netanyahu to avoid an assault that could worsen the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Israel’s government, led by Netanyahu, believes a military operation is necessary to dismantle Hamas’s presence in Rafah and secure the release of hostages captured during the October 7th attacks.

Netanyahu responded defiantly to Biden’s public stance, stating that Israel would “fight with our fingernails” if necessary, emphasizing the nation’s readiness to stand alone in this conflict. Israel’s top military officials also downplayed the practical impact of Biden’s threat to withhold certain weapons, stating that they had sufficient munitions for the operation. Despite these reassurances, Biden’s ultimatum has sparked bipartisan criticism and concerns from U.S. lawmakers who argue about the potential impact of conditioning arms to Israel. Simultaneously, aid organizations and international agencies fear that an all-out assault on Rafah could devastate the lives of over 1.3 million Palestinians sheltering in the city and disrupt vital humanitarian operations.

AP News:  

An article from AP News by Joseph Krauss and Josef Federman presents a detailed account of the escalating tension between Netanyahu and Biden. It highlights Netanyahu’s defiant response to Biden’s warning and reiterates Israel’s readiness to “stand alone” if the U.S. stops supplying offensive weapons. The AP report emphasizes Biden’s humanitarian concerns over a Rafah offensive and the potential impact on civilians seeking refuge in the city. It explains how Netanyahu’s far-right government views Rafah as a critical stronghold of Hamas that must be dismantled to secure Israel’s safety and rescue hostages taken in the October attacks.

AP News details the strain this ultimatum has placed on Israel-U.S. relations, further complicated by the actions of ultra-nationalist ministers like Itamar Ben-Gvir, who supports the Rafah operation. The article also underscores the challenges humanitarian agencies face due to border crossing closures and fuel shortages that hinder aid delivery. AP News reflects on how Biden’s tough stance and the emerging rift may harden Hamas’ position while weakening Israel’s negotiating power.

CNN Politics:  

CNN’s report, written by Kevin Liptak, MJ Lee, and Kayla Tausche, delves into Biden’s decision to make his warning public after repeated private communications with Netanyahu failed to sway the Israeli Prime Minister’s plans for a Rafah invasion. It describes the hours of discussions between Biden’s national security team and their Israeli counterparts, who tried to emphasize that alternative strategies existed to combat Hamas without launching a massive offensive. 

CNN’s article sheds light on Biden’s deep frustration with Netanyahu’s persistent drive for the Rafah offensive. It recounts the gradual deterioration of their relationship, marked by Biden’s anger over civilian deaths and the killing of aid workers in Gaza. The report emphasizes Biden’s desire to support Israel while navigating the growing humanitarian concerns and mounting bipartisan criticism following his ultimatum.

The Independent:  

Namita Singh’s report in *The Independent* illustrates Netanyahu’s adamant stance on the Rafah invasion, despite Biden’s threat to hold back arms. It focuses on Netanyahu’s assertion that Israel would “stand alone” if necessary, emphasizing his determination to dismantle Hamas forces in Rafah. The report describes how Netanyahu insisted that victory in the conflict would not be complete without fully invading Rafah to capture or neutralize Hamas militants and free Israeli hostages.

Singh’s report discusses the significant humanitarian concerns raised by international organizations and charities, which fear catastrophic consequences for the 1.3 million Palestinians sheltering in Rafah. She also addresses Netanyahu’s coalition partners’ pressure, particularly ultra-nationalists who threaten to withdraw their support unless a large-scale ground operation is launched. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari is quoted dismissing Biden’s decision to hold back arms, stating that Israel’s military is prepared and equipped for their Rafah plans