Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will “stand alone” if it has to in its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
His remarks in a statement issued Thursday came after President Joe Biden said the United States would not provide offensive weapons for Israel’s long-promised assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
Netanyahu said: “If we have to stand alone, we will stand alone. If we need to, we will fight with our fingernails. But we have much more than fingernails.”
The US is making its sharpest moves yet to influence the decision-making of its ally in the ongoing war against Hamas.
“Our view is any kind of major Rafah ground operation would actually strengthen Hamas' hands at the negotiating table, not Israel’s,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Thursday. He said more civilian deaths in Rafah from an Israeli offensive would give more ammunition to Hamas' “twisted narrative” about Israel.
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller also said on Thursday that the United States believes a major military operation in Rafah would weaken Israel's position in hostage talks with Hamas.
Washington continues to engage with Israel on amendments to a ceasefire proposal submitted by Hamas, Miller said, adding work was ongoing to finalize the text of an agreement but that work was "incredibly difficult."
But Israel's military spokesman said the army has the weapons it needs to press ahead with its offensive in Rafah.
Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari was asked at a news conference whether the army can conduct the operation without US arms.
“The army has armaments for the missions it plans, and for the missions in Rafah too -- we have what we need,” Hagari said.
