The Minister of National Security in Israel, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has threatened to oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from power if the latter fails to order the occupation of Rafah.
"If Netanyahu decides to end the war without a large-scale attack on Rafah, he will not have the mandate to serve as prime minister," extremist minister Itamar Ben-Gvir declared this Monday.
The Israeli military withdrew its ground forces from southern Gaza on Sunday, prompting speculation that the ground operation in Rafah had been canceled or postponed.
An Israeli minister, speaking on condition of anonymity, told "The Telegraph" that he "100 percent agrees" with Ben-Gvir.
"We have very clear goals, which are to eliminate the military capabilities of Hamas. This means first and foremost the four remaining battalions in Rafah. The second goal is to dismantle their political and administrative skills. So the war is not over and we have a job to do. It is very simple", said the minister.
The IDF said its ground forces left southern Gaza due to fatigue and not because the war was over, but the decision came just days after Joe Biden held a tense phone call with Netanyahu. Biden called for more aid to be allowed into Gaza, as well as better protection of civilians and international aid workers.
Israel believes that the hostages are located in Rafah and that 4,000 members of Hamas are hiding there. However, Rafah houses the majority of the civilian population, which is currently suffering the severe consequences of the war, from malnutrition to lack of medical aid.