israel’s war cabinet on friday approved an assault on rafah after the civilians there have been moved out.
netanyahu’s office said the israel defense forces are taking steps to relocate the estimated 1.5 million palestinians sheltering in the city toward central gaza.
“we will operate in rafah. this will take several weeks, and it will happen,” netanyahu said on sunday.
in thursday’s 44-minute speech, schumer, a new york democrat and a decades-long supporter of israel in congress, said netanyahu had become an “obstacle” to peace.
it was an extraordinary public rebuke as concerns grow worldwide about the civilian toll of israel’s war on hamas in gaza, now into its sixth month.
u.s. president joe biden praised the remarks, saying that schumer had made a “good speech” while stopping short of endorsing the call for israeli elections and netanyahu’s ouster. on sunday, john kirby, spokesman for the white house’s national security council, said on abc’s “this week” that the us has to respect the sovereignty of a “democratic country.”
israel’s war against hamas, designated as a terrorist group by the u.s. and the european union, started after hamas fighters invaded southern israel on oct. 7, killing about 1,200 men, women and children and taking some 250 hostage. more than 130 of the hostages are still being held in gaza.