For the first time, an Israeli official announced the deadline date for the release of hostages held in Gaza. In announcing the deadline, Israel declared when its troops might launch an offensive in Rafah. 

Benny Gantz, an Israeli war cabinet member, warned that unless Hamas frees all the hostages held in Gaza by March 10 action will be taken in Rafah. Rafah is an overcrowded city in the southern Gaza Strip. There are 1.5 million Palestinians sheltering in Rafah. Some world leaders, including President Biden, are trying to stop Israel from going into Rafah. 

March 10 is a significant date for Muslims.

Speaking on Sunday, Mr. Gantz, a former defence minister, said: "The world must know, and Hamas leaders must know - if by Ramadan our hostages are not home, the fighting will continue everywhere, to include the Rafah area".

Ramadan - the Islamic holy month of fasting - this year begins on 10 March.

Mr Gantz added that Israel would act in "a co-ordinated manner, facilitating the evacuation of civilians in dialogue with our American and Egyptian partners to minimise civilian casualties".

Unlike Hamas, Israel strives to reduce civilian casualties. This announcement gives Hamas three weeks to act. Unfortunately for Gazans, Hamas doesn't care about Gazan lives. So far, Israel has not given any instructions for evacuation to Gazans.

The Israeli war cabinet was formed after the Hamas massacres on October 7, 2023. The cabinet is comprised of Israel's top security officials. Hamas is still holding 130 hostages in Gaza, including Americans.

The reference to Egypt may have been included because Israel expects some Palestinians to leave the Gaza Strip to seek shelter on the Egyptian side of the border. It looks like authorities are building large walled enclosures as shelters, according to reports. Few people are leaving, though, to head west towards the coast. Most are waiting to see what happens, not sure what to do.

There is international pressure on Prime Minister Netanyahu but he is not showing signs of backing away from launching a ground assault in Rafah to eliminate Hamas there. Talks are not going well. Hamas keeps upping its demands and rejects proposals for a ceasefire in exchange for the release of the hostages. 

It is beyond the pale that Biden is siding with pro-Hamas supporters now that Muslims and Arab-American voters in Michigan are demanding a ceasefire. They refuse to vote for Biden in Michigan's primary later this month, they say, because he refuses to call for a ceasefire. Biden is putting his re-election over supporting America's only ally in that part of the world. 

Egypt and some other Arab countries have repeatedly warned that an Israeli offensive there would risk pushing many Palestinians into Egypt - which they consider unacceptable. Saudi Arabia has vowed "very serious repercussions" if Rafah is stormed.

Internationally there have been many warnings to Israel not to launch an offensive in Gaza's southernmost city, where Palestinians are living in dire conditions. The US - a key Israeli ally - has said that launching an operation into the city without proper planning would be a "disaster".

Netanyahu honored a request from Biden to continue negotiations but the negotiators didn't return for further discussions because the Hamas's demands were "delusional." 

Hamas has no interest in peace. When Hamas went into Israel and massacred Israelis and others on October 7, there was a ceasefire in place. Terrorists are not good-faith negotiators. Netanyahu has to remain clear-eyed and finish the job. Hamas has to be destroyed. 

As John wrote about yesterday, Biden is taking his plans for a ceasefire to the United Nations. Our spineless president is working against Israel in its plan to clean out Hamas in Rafah. The proposed draft resolution from the United States to the U.N. Security Council calls for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza. It warns Israel against invading Rafah. In previous votes in the U.N. on the Israel-Hamas war, the United States has avoided using the word 'ceasefire.' 

The U.N. will vote today on the resolution. Shame on our corrupt and spineless president. Israel must have the full support of the Biden administration to save itself against those who wish to destroy Israel and its people.