Netanyahu says ‘nothing will stop’ offensive on Rafah as Israeli protesters call for his removal

Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to “destroy” Hamas and press ahead with a ground offensive in Rafah as thousands of protesters called for his removal.

The Israeli prime minister delivered a televised address to the nation on Sunday before undergoing hernia surgery, saying he would do “everything” he could to secure the release of hostages abducted by Hamas.

Mr Netanyahu said his army would move civilians from Rafah before launching an offensive on the southern city.

“Nothing will stop us, once we do that [evacuate civilians], not American pressure and nothing else,” he said. “If we do not destroy those battalions of Hamas there we cannot actually win because otherwise it is an existential threat agaisnt the state of Israel.”

Several of Israel’s allies and humanitarian groups have warned that a ground offensive in Rafah, on the border with Egypt, would result in a human catastrophe.

And on Sunday, protesters gathered in Jerusalem to urge the government to reach a deal to free dozens of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza and to hold early elections.

Nearly six months of war have renewed divisions in Israeli society about how to respond to the ongoing hostage situation.

Hamas killed some 1,200 people during its cross-border terror attack on 7 October and took about 250 others hostage.

Roughly half the hostages were released during a weeklong cease-fire in November, but repeated attempts by international mediators to broker another cease-fire deal have so far failed.

“After six months, it seems like the government understands that Bibi Netanyahu is an obstacle,” said demonstrator Einav Moses, whose father-in-law, Gadi Moses, is held hostage.

“Like he doesn’t really want to bring them back, that they have failed in this mission.”

The crowd of protesters stretched for blocks around the Knesset, or parliament building, and organisers vowed to continue the demonstration for several days.

They urged the government to cancel an upcoming parliamentary recess and to hold new elections nearly two years ahead of schedule.

In his address, Mr Netanyahu also said he understood the pain of the hostages’ families. “I will do everything to bring the hostages home,” he said.