Benjamin Netanyahu announced an attack on Rafah with or without a prisoner exchange agreement

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that he will initiate a ground attack on the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, regardless of whether a prisoner exchange agreement with Hamas is reached or not.

Netanyahu met with representatives of the families of Israeli prisoners in Gaza, as stated in a press release from the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office.

Stating that they will not stop attacks on Gaza “until they achieve their goals,” Netanyahu declared that he will proceed with a ground assault on Rafah regardless of whether a prisoner exchange agreement is reached or not.

Netanyahu’s announcement of a ground attack on Rafah, where 1.5 million displaced Palestinians have sought refuge, comes at a time when negotiations for a prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas are ongoing.

A news report yesterday in Egyptian media stated that the Hamas delegation had left Cairo and would respond in writing to the ceasefire agreement proposal, as reported by Anadolu Agency.