Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the intense fighting in Gaza is approaching an end soon. In an interview with Israeli Channel 14, the Likud party leader said on Sunday said that the intensive phase of the war in Rafah is approaching an end.
Netanyahu also said that the Israel Defense Forces were “very close” to concluding the “intensive phase” in the entire Gaza Strip.
However, the 74-year-old mentioned that this wasn’t the end of ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. He said Israel will continue to fight against Hamas targets.
“It doesn’t mean that the war is about to end, but the war in its intense phase is about to end in Rafah,” he was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times, citing an AFP report.
“After the end of the intense phase, we will be able to redeploy some forces to the north, and we will do that. Primarily for defensive purposes but also to bring the (displaced) residents back home,” Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu mentioned that any talks to secure a ceasefire along the Israel-Lebanon border will have to meet Israel’s terms.
“The goal is to return the kidnapped and uproot the Hamas regime in Gaza,” he said.