Israel has promised that the terrorist organization Hamas will suffer “painful blows,” as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims that all proposals to reach a new hostage deal have been rejected by the militant group.

Israel and Hamas have been at war since the October 7th attack on Israeli soil. More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed since the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a bombing campaign followed by a ground invasion of Gaza, according to the latest figures provided by the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.

Netanyahu maintains steadfast in his claim that Israel cannot achieve its goal of “total victory” without launching an offensive on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where around 1.4 million displaced Palestinians have sought refuge since the beginning of the war.

Israel Approves A “Plan” To Attack Rafah in Gaza

“Instead of retreating from its extreme positions, Hamas builds on division within us. It draws encouragement from the pressures directed at the Israeli government. As a result, it only tightens its conditions for the release of our hostages,” Netanyahu continued, in an apparent reference to anti-government protests calling for new elections and demanding that the authorities do more to reach a new hostage deal.

“In the coming days, we will increase the military and diplomatic pressure on Hamas because this is the only way to free our hostages and achieve our victory,” he added, according to a report by RT. 

Netanyahu Sets A Date To Attack Rafah

While there’s been a lot of talk from Israel of attacking Rafah, the country has yet to follow through with its plan.

The potential invasion of the densely populated city has caused alarm in the international community. United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned of “terrible consequences” if Israel goes ahead with the plan. In spite of that, the war still continues to rage on and expand.

Israel Is Mobilizing 2 Additional Brigades As The War Expands Rapidly