KINSELLA: Israel will not stop Rafah advance, says former military commander

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TEL AVIV — Israel will not stop its military advance against Hamas stronghold Rafah, a former high-ranking Israeli military commander said — whether the United States and its Western allies approve or not.

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And Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has no choice, said retired Israeli Brigadier General Amir Avivi, who spoke to the Toronto Sun on Tuesday, a day after news broke that the Hamas was now ready to sign a ceasefire agreement.

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Citing what his close friend and Caesarea neighbor Netanyahu told him, Avivi said: “Nothing will stop us from entering Rafah from now on. »

This even includes the Biden administration, Avivi says, which founded and leads a powerful political and cultural force in Israeli society: the Israel Defense and Security Forum, made up of more than 30,000 former IDF soldiers and officers. .

“Israel has set very clear objectives for this war,” Avivi said. “The complete destruction of Hamas as a government and military entity, bringing back all the hostages and ensuring that there will never again be a terrorist army in Gaza. »

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These goals simply have not yet been achieved, says Avivi, who has important contacts within the Netanyahu coalition and is regularly consulted by key government ministers. Avivi says: “To achieve these goals, you essentially have to conquer the entire Gaza Strip – and there is no way to destroy Hamas without taking control of the entire Gaza Strip. »

But that is not what US President Joe Biden, Canada and other Israeli allies want. They have repeatedly said they strongly oppose any Israeli military action on Rafah, where a million Palestinians have gathered to escape fighting.

When news of Hamas’ decision to accept a ceasefire agreement was announced Monday evening local time, it was immediately met with muted hostility in Jerusalem. Israel was not even aware of the terms of the agreement, Netanyahu government sources said.

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Despite this apparent opposition to a ceasefire agreement, Israel announced that it was still prepared to send a team to Egypt to review the details and possibly negotiate. Asked about this apparent contradiction – continuing to fight but also relaunching negotiations – Avivi responds:

“Israel says nothing will stop us from going to Rafah – even if the United States objects. Even if the whole world is against it. In one of their meetings, (Netanyahu) told Biden: “If we have to conquer Gaza with our fingernails, we will. We’re going to do it even if you don’t give us ammunition, even if you don’t give us weapons – we’re going and we’re not going to lose the war.

Participating in the negotiations in Egypt does not change this imperative, believes Avivi.

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“Israel is saying: what if we have a chance to release the female hostages, the elderly hostages, under an agreement that will take the form of a one-month ceasefire or a 40-day ceasefire? Very good,” he adds, shrugging his shoulders. “And then we will resume the attack on Rafah. »

The United States, Canada and Europe could achieve the desired ceasefire, Avivi concludes. But nothing will stop Israel’s coalition government and war cabinet from also finishing their work to eliminate Hamas, he says.

“We have no choice.”

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