play videoplay video
Video duration 04 minutes 32 seconds 04:32
Israeli media reported on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's insistence on storming the city of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, and the clash between him and the administration of US President Joe Biden, in addition to Washington's decision to stop funding the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Refugees (UNRWA).
In this context, former Israeli Army Minister Moshe Ya'alon said that the Rafah storming is Netanyahu's propaganda campaign, adding that "he will respond by saying that he was restrained by the Americans, and he will accuse them of not enabling him to achieve a decisive victory."
Ya'alon added to Israeli Channel 12, "They withdrew the brigades. There are 4 brigades in Gaza now instead of the 28 brigades that were there. Do you think Yahya Sinwar (leader of the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas in Gaza) does not realize this?"
He stressed that Netanyahu wants to prolong the war, “because the life of his term as prime minister is the duration of the war’s continuation, and he does not want it to end,” and added that he is “ready to sacrifice the kidnapped (prisoners).”
Ya'alon continued, "If we were working based on Israel's interests and not on the basis of preserving the survival of the government coalition, we would have dealt with the issue of missing persons from the beginning," noting that "National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir voted against the release of women and children, and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich was prepared to release them." To vote in favor of the deal on the condition that the temporary ceasefire does not last more than 10 days.”
He explained, "For them, the return of Christ is near, and the events of last October 7 necessitate celebration. Their slogan is, 'Let's occupy Gaza so that the Jews can settle it. For that, of course, there will be no ceasefire, and the kidnapped will not be released.'"
He concluded his speech, “For them, sacrificing the kidnapped is for the coming of Christ,” describing the situation as seemingly crazy.
In turn, Israeli Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz said, “The American administration has now decided to stop any funding for UNRWA, whose value ranges between 350 and 400 million dollars a year, as it is the main financier.”
He added in his interview with Israeli Channel 14, "We will talk to all other countries and we will say follow the steps of the United States, because of the importance of neutralizing UNRWA," adding, "UNRWA has a mandate that preserves the refugee issue forever and pushes them to have the right to return to the State of Israel."
He stressed that he is leading in this direction “a very important process with the support of the Prime Minister and the entire political system,” calling on the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres - who came to the Rafah border to deliver speeches accusing Israel again - of the necessity of resigning.
Source: Al Jazeera