"Netanyahu's Pledge: Israel's Plan for Rafah Amid US Pressure"

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, ahead of surgery for a hernia, vowed that Israel would invade Rafah despite pressure from Ramadan and the US, stating that the IDF was prepared for the operation. He rejected accusations of delaying the release of hostages and alleged that Israel has relaxed its position in negotiations while Hamas has hardened theirs. Thousands of Israelis gathered in Jerusalem urging the government to reach a cease-fire deal to free hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, as talks resumed with little expectation of a breakthrough. Netanyahu has insisted that there can be no victory without a military ground offensive in Rafah, where more than half of Gaza's population now shelters after fleeing fighting elsewhere.