A senior leader in the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) told Reuters that the Zionist order to deport residents from Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip is a dangerous development and will have repercussions.

The leader of the Hamas movement held the American administration responsible, along with the Zionist occupation, for this terrorism practiced against the Palestinian people.

The Zionist Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, called on Monday for the Israeli army to enter the city of Rafah, which is crowded with displaced people. Smotrich said in a post on the “X” platform that the delay in entering Rafah and the loss of control over strategic assets in the Strip harm Israel, harm the goals of the war, harm the opportunity to return the detainees to their homes, and cost a lot of blood, he said.

He added that the Israeli army must defeat what he described as the “enemy.” Extremist Minister Smotrich is considered one of the most prominent supporters in the Israeli government of carrying out a military operation in Rafah, ignoring any international fears and warnings about the danger of this step.

For his part, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant said that the Zionist military action in Rafah is necessary because Hamas rejects proposals made by the mediators regarding a truce in Gaza, under which the movement would release some detainees.

Gallant informed his American counterpart, Lloyd Austin, of the Israeli government’s decision to launch a military operation in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip. According to the Ministry of Defense, Gallant explained to Austin Israel’s efforts to reach broad lines for the release of detainees and a temporary ceasefire, and said that Hamas rejects any proposal that would allow this, as he claimed.

Kahina Bouaouina / English Version: Med.B.