Benjamin Netanyahu says in an interview airing Sunday that the Israeli military will provide “safe passage for the civilian population” ahead of an expected assault on the overcrowded southern Gaza city of Rafah, rejecting fears of a “catastrophe,” AFP reports.
Despite international alarm over the potential carnage in a city crammed with more than a million displaced Palestinians, the Israeli prime minister told ABC News’ “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” the offensive is key to crushing Hamas.
“Victory is within reach. We’re going to do it. We’re going to get the remaining Hamas terrorist battalions and Rafah, which is the last bastion, but we’re going to do it,” he said in extracts of the interview released Saturday evening.
“We’re going to do it while providing safe passage for the civilian population so they can leave,” he said.
“We are working out a detailed plan to do so,” Netanyahu added. “We’re not, we’re not cavalier about this.” He mentioned areas north of Rafah that have been cleared which could be used a safe zones for civilians.
