Netanyahu vows that 'total victory will be ours' once Israel invasion of Rafah begins as Prime Minister comes under pressure to avert ground offensive

Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that Israel will see a 'total victory' once the IDF begins its invasion of Rafah, the last refuge of the estimated 1.4 million Palestinians who have been forced down south. 

He said a full invasion of Gaza's third city was inevitable, regardless of whether Israel reaches a ceasefire deal with Hamas or not. 

'If we have a deal, it will be delayed somewhat, but it will happen. If we don't have a deal, we'll do it anyway.

'It has to be done because total victory is our goal and total victory is within reach - not months away, weeks away, once we begin the operation.'

Netanyahu's comments are a step-up in rhetoric with regard to its military plan for the Gaza Strip, which has been heavily condemned by much of the world for being indiscriminate, which has killed nearly 30,000 people, most of them women and children, through a devastating bombing and missile campaign following Hamas' sickening incursion on October 7. 

Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that Israel will see a 'total victory' once the IDF begins its invasion of Rafah

Demolished buildings, destroyed by Israeli airstrike, as the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from some areas of Khan Younis

Rafah is the last refuge of the estimated 1.4 million Palestinians who have been forced down south

Israel previously warned that it would begin its invasion of Rafah on March 10, the start of Ramadan , unless Hamas returned the roughly 130 hostages that remain hidden in Gaza

Israel previously warned that it would begin its invasion of Rafah on March 10, the start of Ramadan, unless Hamas returned the roughly 130 hostages that remain hidden in Gaza. 

Diplomatic efforts to get Israel and Hamas to agree to a ceasefire deal are ongoing, and negotiators from Egypt, Qatar and the US met in Doha, Qatar's capital, to work on the deal. 

US representatives said the talks  produced 'an understanding' towards a ceasefire and hostage release

A senior official from Egypt has said the draft ceasefire deal includes the release of up to 40 women and older hostages in return for up to 300 Palestinian prisoners, mostly women, minors and older people.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the negotiations, said the proposed six-week pause in fighting would include allowing hundreds of trucks to bring desperately needed aid into Gaza every day, including the north.

Israel has killed nearly 30,000 people, most of them women and children, through a devastating bombing and missile campaign following Hamas' incursion on October 7

A donkey-pulled car passes in front of the Al-Faruq mosque, levelled by Israeli bombardment in Rafah

Palestinians wait with empty water jerry cans to refill them with clean water

He said both sides agreed to continue negotiations during the pause for further releases and a permanent ceasefire.

Hamas says it has not been involved in the latest proposal developed by the US, Egypt and Qatar, but the reported outline largely matches its earlier proposal for the first phase of a truce.

Hamas has said it will not release all the remaining hostages until Israel ends its offensive and withdraws its forces from the territory, and is demanding the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including senior militants - conditions Mr Netanyahu has rejected.

As diplomats meet in Doha, starving Palestinians have been pushed further south towards Rafah, which have sparked condemnation from the international community, and questions over where Palestinians will go when Israel begins attacking the tent city.

Neighbouring Egypt has kept its border closed to a mass refugee flight, arguing it will not help facilitate any Israeli operation to push Palestinians out of Gaza.

But satellite images show it has also built a walled enclosure next to Gaza, in an apparent effort to brace for the arrival of large numbers of refugees.

Inside Israel, public pressure has grown on Netanyahu - both from the desperate families of hostages demanding swifter action, and from a resurgent anti-government protest movement

Smoke rises during an Israeli ground operation in Khan Younis, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas

Smoke billows following Israeli bombardment in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip

Gaza's humanitarian crisis has spiralled, with the UN World Food Programme reporting 'unprecedented levels of desperation'

Inside Israel, public pressure has grown on Netanyahu - both from the desperate families of hostages demanding swifter action, and from a resurgent anti-government protest movement.

Gaza's humanitarian crisis has spiralled, with the UN World Food Programme reporting 'unprecedented levels of desperation'.

Red Crescent volunteer Ezzedin Halaweh said food shortages in the north were 'leading to severe health issues, especially among children'.

One father told AFP that he had to try and feed his one-year-old daughter bread made from animal feed, as he could not find any milk. 

She was unable to digest the food. He said: 'Our only hope is God, there is nobody else to help.'