Israeli media reports stated that the Israeli incursion into Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, may continue for about two months, while France called for it to stop.

Israeli Channel 12 said that estimates in Israel indicate that the operation in Rafah will continue for about two months, and will take place in stages so that it can be stopped at any moment if a prisoner exchange agreement is reached.

On Friday, the American website Axios reported from informed sources that the Israeli mini-cabinet had agreed to expand the Israeli army’s area of operations in Rafah.

The website added that the measure approved by the Israeli mini-cabinet could be interpreted by Washington as crossing what it called the “red line” of US President Joe Biden.

Axios also said that the small council instructed the Israeli negotiating team on the exchange deal to continue efforts to reach an agreement, while Israeli Channel 13 reported that the Ministerial Council approved the renewal of the Israeli delegation’s mandate regarding the exchange deal.

It is noteworthy that the declared position of the United States is to oppose a large-scale Israeli military operation in Rafah that could have major humanitarian repercussions.

Last Monday, the Israeli army took control of the Rafah crossing, causing the halt of the entry of aid, and then began an incursion into the eastern neighborhoods of the city after displacing more than 100,000 civilians.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also repeatedly announced his determination to invade Rafah, claiming to eliminate 4 battalions of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) there, and the attack began hours after the movement announced its approval of the mediators’ proposal for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange.

Stop the incursion

Politically, on Friday evening, France called on Israel to stop its military operation in Rafah, indicating that this operation may have disastrous repercussions for the residents of the Strip.

The French Foreign Ministry said - in a statement - that Israel must stop the operation in Rafah “without delay” and return to the path of negotiations because it is “the only possible way” to push for the immediate release of detainees and reach a permanent ceasefire.

For his part, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on Friday that Berlin is considering stopping sending more weapons to Israel in the event that it launches a large-scale invasion of the city of Rafah.

Pistorius added - during a television interview - that a discussion is currently taking place on this issue behind closed doors in the German government, but he said that the responsibility for making such a decision belongs to the German Chancellery and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In response to a question about whether he understood the step taken by the US government to stop sending certain types of munitions to Israel, the German Defense Minister answered yes, and said that he could understand it.

Washington's position: In Washington, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said yesterday that the Israeli army's conduct of what he called "effective operations" in Rafah is possible while protecting civilians. He added that the Israelis will determine the duration and timing of their operation in Rafah, saying that Washington wants to see the evacuation of civilians from the operation area. For his part, Strategic Communications Coordinator at the US National Security Council, John Kirby, said that what Washington does not support is a major military operation in Rafah. He explained that if Israeli forces move towards Rafah in a large ground operation, Washington will stop sending certain types of weapons.

Kirby pointed out that the Israeli military operation currently underway is focused on the Rafah crossing area.