Netanyahu Says Rafah Op To Take ‘Weeks, Not Months’ As EU Warns Of Damaged Ties

On Wednesday Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the controversial Rafah offensive, which has been criticized by a number of Western allies including Washington, is expected to “last weeks” and not not months or years.

The Israeli leader appears to be trying to calm the storm of condemnation coming from the West, especially in Europe at a moment at least 500,000 Palestinians have been forced to flee Rafah. On the same day the European Union issued a call for Israel to stop the Rafah operation “immediately”.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell warned that if PM Netanyahu doesn’t reverse course, it will put a heavy strain on ties. “Should Israel continue its military operation in Rafah, it would inevitably put a heavy strain on the EU’s relationship with Israel,” he said a statement issued in the bloc’s name.