Netanyahu, ahead of surgery, vows Israel will invade Rafah, despite pressure from Ramadan, US

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, ahead of surgery for a hernia on Sunday, vowed that Israel would invade Rafah, despite twin pressures from Ramadan and Washington.

Netanyahu, 74, said he had approved the IDF’s "operational plan" for Rafah, saying the force was "prepared for the evacuation of the civilian population and for the provision of humanitarian assistance."

"This is the right thing both operationally and internationally," he said. "This will take time but it will be done. We will enter Rafah and we will eliminate the Hamas battalions there for one simple reason: There is no victory without entering Rafah and there is no victory without eliminating the Hamas battalions there."

The comments came after the Israeli leader met with the families of the hostages still in Gaza. He rejected accusations that he was delaying their release.

"Those who say I am not doing everything to return the hostages are wrong and misleading, and those who know the truth and still repeating this lie are causing unnecessary grief to the families of the hostages," he said.

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Netanyahu alleged that Israel has "relaxed" its position in negotiations while Hamas has "hardened" theirs.

"Despite all the difficulty involved,