Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that the Israeli military would soon launch an operation into Rafah and pledged to provide safe passage to civilians, but offered few details.
"Victory is within reach. We're going to do it. We're going to get the remaining Hamas terrorist battalions in Rafah, which is the last bastion, but we're going to do it," Netanyahu told ABC News' Jonathan Karl in an interview releasing Sunday.
"We're going to do it while providing safe passage for the civilian population so they can leave," he said.
When asked where Palestinians are expected to go, Netanyahu said "we're working out a detailed plan."
"Those who say that under no circumstances should we enter Rafah are basically saying: ‘lose the war, keep Hamas there’," Netanyahu added.
The prime minister has directed his military to prepare to evacuate an estimated 1.3 million people in the city. Many have already been displaced from other parts of the enclave and say they have nowhere to go.
The US has warned carrying out such an operation without thorough planning "would be a disaster" while the United Nations, other aid organizations, and several other countries have expressed concern over the impact on civilians.