CONTROVERSY
Status:Open

Will Israel Expand Its Ground Invasion to Rafah?

Joe Biden
Benjamin Netanyahu
Yoav Gallant
IDF
Yaakov Amidror
Avi Dichter
Benny Gantz
John Kirby
+3
NEVERIMMINENTLY

Claims

Yoav Gallant
Yoav Gallant"Those who think we are delaying [the invasion of Rafah] will soon see there is no place we cannot reach."Mar 14, 2024
IDF
IDF"It will happen, and all that remains to be decided is the method and force."Feb 17, 2024
Avi Dichter
Avi Dichter"The operation in Rafah will happen."Feb 11, 2024
John Kirby
John KirbyThe US has not seen any Israeli plans "that would convince us that they are about to or imminently going to conduct any kind of major operations in Rafah."Feb 08, 2024
Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu"[W]e have no way to defeat Hamas without entering Rafah."Mar 22, 2024
Yoav Gallant
Yoav Gallant"We are completing the mission in Khan Younis and we will reach Rafah, as well."Feb 02, 2024
Enia Krivine
Enia Krivine"Taking Rafah is critical for the IDF to achieve the war's two primary goals: destroying Hamas's military capability and returning the Israeli hostages."Feb 11, 2024
John Kirby
John Kirby"[W]e never said that they can't go into Rafah to remove Hamas."Feb 12, 2024
Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu"We'll go there [into Rafah]. We're not going to leave them."Mar 15, 2024
Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu"Those who say that under no circumstances should we enter Rafah are basically saying lose the war. Keep Hamas there."Feb 11, 2024
Joe Biden
Joe Biden"It [Rafah] is a red line, but I am never going to leave Israel."Mar 10, 2024
Yaakov Amidror
Yaakov AmidrorAn invasion of Rafah "is not imminent... but it will have to be done."Feb 11, 2024
Benny Gantz
Benny Gantz"If by Ramadan our hostages are not home, the fighting will continue to the Rafah area."Feb 19, 2024
Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu"We're going to do it. We're going to get the remaining Hamas terrorist battalions in Rafah, which is the last bastion, but we're going to do it."Feb 11, 2024
Diaa Rashwan
Diaa Rashwan"[A]ny Israeli move in this direction [an invasion of Rafah] will lead to a serious threat to Egyptian-Israeli relations.Jan 31, 2024
Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu"If we have a deal, it [the Rafah offensive] will be delayed somewhat, but it will happen. If we don't have a deal, we'll do it anyway."Feb 25, 2024
Israel Katz
Israel Katz"Israel will have to deal with Rafah because we can't just leave Hamas there."Feb 16, 2024
Benny Gantz
Benny Gantz"Either the hostages will be returned, or we will extend the fighting to Rafah."Feb 16, 2024
Josep Borrell
Josep Borrell"[A]n Israeli offensive on Rafah would lead to an unspeakable humanitarian catastrophe."Feb 11, 2024
OHCHR
OHCHR"[A]ny ground assault on Rafah would incur massive loss of life and would heighten the risk of further atrocity crimes."Mar 08, 2024

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