Abbas says only US can halt Israel's attack on Rafah, expected in days

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Reuters

April 28, 2024 6:07 AM EDT Updated 2 hours ago


RIYADH, April 28 (Reuters) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Sunday only the United States could stop Israel attacking the border city of Rafah in Gaza, adding that the assault, which he expects within days, could force much of the Palestinian population to flee the enclave.

"We call on the United States of America to ask Israel to not carry on the Rafah attack. America is the only country able to prevent Israel from committing this crime," Abbas told a special meeting of the World Economic Forum in the Saudi capital Riyadh. Israel, which has threatened for weeks to launch an all-out assault on the neighbourhood saying its goal is to destroy Hamas' remaining battalions there, stepped up airstrikes on Rafah last week.

Western countries, including Israel's closest ally the United States, have pleaded with it to hold back from attacking the southern city, which abuts the Egyptian border and is sheltering more than a million Palestinians who fled Israel's seven-month long assault on much of the rest of Gaza.

"What will happen in the coming few days is what Israel will do with attacking Rafah because all the Palestinians from Gaza are gathered there," Abbas said, adding that only a "small strike" on Rafah would force the Palestinian population to flee the Gaza strip.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/abbas-says-only-us-can-halt-israels-attack-rafah-expected-days-2024-04-28/

[Lonestarblue]

1. An attack on Rafah could result in hundreds of thousands of deaths because Israelis have herded most people there.

For Netanyahu, the opportunity to murder hundreds of thousands of Palestinians quickly may be too much to resist. Such an attack by Israel should be a red line for the US—no more aid of any kind until the war ends.

[SunSeeker]

2. No, Abbas, Hamas could halt the attack--if they released the hostages. nt

[Lonestarblue]

3. Doubtful. Netanyahu's primary goal is to eliminate Hamas, not get the hostages back.

Since he sees most people in Gaza as part of Hamas, he will continue the war until no Palestinians are left ot they have been forced out from starvation.

[calguy]

5. Hamas' primary and ultimate goal is and has been the elimination of all Jews

It's a vicious circle, and this current round of hostilities was started by Hamas.
Hamas brought this on themselves, and now portray themselves as the 'victim'?
Utter BS.

[Lonestarblue]

6. Hamas has said they are willing to accept a two-state solution.

They do not now and never have had the ability to eliminate Israel, which is in absolutely no danger of being forced out of the Middle East.

[calguy]

7. You can defend them all you want

It doesn't change who and what they are. They brought this on themselves, and continue to do so.

[JudyM]

10. Exactly, they continue to do so... including interfering with aid the US is trying to arrange

Al-Hayya (Ed: A top Hamas political official) also implicitly threatened that Hamas would attack Israeli or other forces who might be stationed around a floating pier the U.S. is scrambling to build along Gaza’s coastline to deliver aid by sea.

“We categorically reject any non-Palestinian presence in Gaza, whether at sea or on land, and we will deal with any military force present in these places, Israeli or otherwise … as an occupying power,” he said.

Al-Hayya said Hamas does not regret the Oct. 7 attacks, despite the destruction it has brought down on Gaza and its people. He denied that Hamas militants had targeted civilians during the attacks — despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary — and said the operation succeeded in its goal of bringing the Palestinian issue back to the world’s attention.

https://apnews.com/article/hamas-khalil-alhayya-qatar-ceasefire-1967-borders-4912532b11a9cec29464eab234045438

[Beastly Boy]

8. Israel has repeatedly said it is willing to accept a cease fire

in exchange for the hostages.

The proof is in the pudding. So far there is no evidence of Hamas willing to accept a two-state solution, or even to abide by the terms of a permanent cease fire agreement.

[Scrivener7]

4. The US has already done what he is asking, and Netanyahu is ignoring it.

If it is to have any effect, it will need to include a threat to withhold money.

And I doubt we have the political will to do that.

Which makes this like watching a slow moving train moving toward people stuck on the tracks.

[aeromanKC]

9. War criminal Netenyahoo is not listening to rational thought.

He's out of control.