by Farrukh Abadi
On Monday, Israeli Finance Minister and security cabinet member Bezalel Smotrich called for the “total annihilation” of Rafah, among other Gazan cities, stating that “there are no half measures.” He also warned Netanyahu “don’t wave a white flag” in the ongoing ceasefire talks with Hamas. Smotrich has previously called for the forcible transfer of at least 90% of the population of Gaza.
Last week, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir told the IDF chief of staff to kill more Palestinians instead of arresting them, saying “Why are there so many arrests? “Can’t you kill some? Do you want to tell me they all surrender? What are we to do with so many arrested? It’s dangerous for the soldiers”. This follows from his statement last month where he called for the execution of Palestinian prisoners in order to free up space in Israeli detention centers, stating “the death penalty for terrorists is the right solution to the incarceration problem” in response to overcrowding in Israeli detention centers. Over 9,000 Palestinians are currently imprisoned by Israel.
For his part, Netanyahu has stated that he would move forward with his invasion of Rafah “with or without a deal, in order to achieve the total victory.” Such victory remains ever-elusive for the IDF, however, as its forces retreated last month from much of the territory while resistance fighters continue to subdue IDF troops in parts of Gaza claimed to be under IDF control.
Roughly 1.5 million Palestinians are concentrated in Rafah, the southern city of Gaza, after about 80% of Gaza’s population has been forcibly displaced by the IDF in recent months. More than one third of Rafah’s population are children.
Israel has only offered a temporary ceasefire in exchange for the release of Israeli prisoners of war, promising to continue its attacks after the exchange is completed. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken referred to Israel’s offer to temporarily pause its genocide as “extremely generous.”
