Netanyahu: There will be an attack in Rafah

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he remains determined to launch a ground invasion of the southern Gaza city of Rafah, home to many displaced Palestinians, despite concerns expressed by US President Joe Biden.
Netanyahu told lawmakers that he had made it "absolutely clear" to the US president "that we are determined to complete the elimination of these battalions in Rafah and there is no other way to do that than by going into the field."
After the two leaders' talk on Monday, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the US believed that storming Rafah would be a "mistake" and that Israel could achieve its military objectives by other means.
In his comments, Netanyahu said he would wait to hear U.S. proposals "out of respect for President Biden" on ways to protect civilians in Rafah before ordering the operation.
But he said he saw no alternative to a ground offensive if Israel was to fulfill its goal of destroying Hamas.
"We are having a debate with the Americans about the need to enter Rafah, not about the need to eliminate Hamas," Netanyahu said.
Israeli officials say Rafah, located on the Egyptian border, is the last major Hamas stronghold in Gaza. About 1.5 million Palestinians - more than half of Gaza's population - have taken refuge in Rafah after fleeing fighting in other parts of the territory.
The White House has stated that it will not support the operation in Rafah if the Israelis do not present a credible plan to ensure the safety of Palestinian civilians./BGNES