Israeli minister says ground offensive in Rafah will begin by Ramadan if hostages aren't returned

[brooklynite]

Source: CNN

Israel will expand military operations in the southernmost Gazan city of Rafah if hostages held by Hamas are not returned by the start of Ramadan, war cabinet minister Benny Gantz has warned.

“The world must know, and Hamas leaders must know — if by Ramadan our hostages are not home, the fighting will continue to the Rafah area,” Gantz told a gathering of American-Jewish organizations in Jerusalem on Sunday.

“We will do so in a coordinated manner, facilitating the evacuation of civilians in dialogue with our American and Egyptian partners to minimize civilian casualties,” the Israeli minister added.

The Muslim holy month is expected to start on March 10 or 11. Israel believes that 130 hostages remain in Gaza – 101 alive and 29 dead – following Hamas’ October 7 attacks, which killed around 1,200 people in Israel.


Read more: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/19/middleeast/israel-rafah-ramadan-gantz-intl/index.html

[TeamProg]

1. Just wondering, is this a great idea?

[brooklynite]

2. Would it be better if they waited?

Hostages (if still alive) have been held for four months.

[Richard D]

3. Wait for what?

For Hamas to politely release them? Or until they all die of neglect, torture, murder, or old age?

[cstanleytech]

6. Unless I am mistaken brooklynite didn't say that they should wait.

[Richard D]

9. It is in their . . .

. . . reply title. No?

[cstanleytech]

13. Well, they had a question mark at the end and below that it didn't read at all like they

were asking the person above why they should wait.
If course I could be mistaken but I don't think I am.

[maxsolomon]

4. If what's a great idea? Giving a date?

Yes. They're demonstrating restraint, publicly. They're saying they're taking American and Egyptian concerns into account. That deadline is 4 weeks from now.

Unless you meant launching a Rafah campaign period?

[TeamProg]

5. Yes

"Unless you meant launching a Rafah campaign period?"

[maxsolomon]

7. Israel is not willing to let the hostage situation remain unresolved.

How would you suggest they resolve it? Accede to Hamas' ceasefire proposal and withdraw?

[TeamProg]

12. You know? I'm going to keep quiet on this and just let the rest of the world decide. nt

.

[Richard D]

10. To the best of my understanding . . .

. . . this has been the MO in order to allow the civilians that Hamas allows to evacuate, to evacuate. It doesn't help much for Hamas's human shields.

[cstanleytech]

8. Hopefully HAMAS will do the right thing for a change and do it but I really doubt that as I suspect

that they want the fighting to continue so that they can recruit more radical assholes.

[Richard D]

11. Not only do they want the fighting to continue . . .

. . . Hamas wants as many civilian deaths and casualties as possible so that they can continue to win the propaganda war.