Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that he faced international pressure not to enter Rafah, but insisted that the decision to proceed with the operation would not have changed.
According to Netanyahu, he was warned against entering Rafah because U.S. President Donald Trump had threatened to halt weapons supplies.
“I have great respect for the President. He stood with us at the beginning of the war, but we have no choice. We will enter, and if necessary, we will fight even with our fingernails,” Netanyahu said.
He added that there are moments when, in his view, it is necessary to say “no” even to the most powerful allies, including the American leader.
Netanyahu also claimed that during a meeting with Trump, he informed him of Israel’s plans regarding Iran without seeking approval.
“We are going into Iran. I did not ask for permission; I simply informed him of our plan,” he said, emphasizing what he described as Israel’s independent decision-making on national security matters.
The remarks come amid recent disagreements between Netanyahu and Trump over a ceasefire arrangement involving Iran.
