Israeli war cabinet green-lights military push into Rafah over Biden’s objections: report
By Social Links for Chris Nesi
Published May 10, 2024, 5:14 p.m. ET
Israel’s war cabinet has approved expanding its Hamas battle plan to include Rafah, a move that could soon see Israel Defense Forces enter the densely populated city, which the Jewish state claims is the last bastion for the terrorists.
The decision came fewer than 48 hours after President Biden — dismayed by the rising civilian death toll in Gaza — told CNN that the US would withhold munitions shipments from Israel if it invaded Rafah.
Two sources with knowledge of the details claim Israel’s adapted war plan constitutes a “measured expansion” that won’t encroach on Biden’s “red line” on Rafah, Axios reported.
But a third source told the outlet that the approved expansion plan could potentially be viewed by the US as crossing it.
A majority of the war cabinet also reportedly told Israeli negotiators working on hammering out a hostage exchange and ceasefire deal with Hamas to continue their efforts despite the “expansion of the area of operation” approved Thursday night.
Hawkish cabinet ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, who have urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to invade Rafah, voted to suspend negotiations, the outlet said.
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https://nypost.com/2024/05/10/world-news/israeli-war-cabinet-green-lights-military-push-into-rafah-over-bidens-objections-report/