STORY: Israeli PM says ground attack in Rafah will "take some time"
SHOOTING TIME: Archives/March 19-20, 2024
DATELINE: March 21, 2024
LENGTH: 00:00:58
LOCATION: Jerusalem
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Netanyahu delivering a video statement on March 20, 2024 (Source: GPO)
2. various of Netanyahu at a meeting on March 19, 2024 (Source: GPO)
3. various of a recent air strike in Gaza (Source: the Israel Defense Forces)

STORYLINE:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that preparations for an offensive in Rafah, Gaza's southernmost city, were underway, but launching the attack "will take some time."
   
The prime minister said in a video statement that he will "soon" approve a plan to evacuate the civilian population from Rafah, where about 1.5 million displaced Palestinians have taken refuge.
   
The remarks came a day after Netanyahu told Israeli lawmakers that there was no alternative to a ground attack in Rafah in order "to eliminate Hamas battalions" left there.
   
On Monday, Netanyahu and U.S. President Joe Biden talked over the phone and agreed that their teams would meet in Washington to discuss alternatives to a major ground operation in Rafah, according to the White House. The meeting is expected to take place next week.
   
Last week, Netanyahu rejected Hamas' demands about the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, and approved a plan for the operation in Rafah.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Jerusalem.
(XHTV)