Among those scolding Mr. Netanyahu was French President Emmanuel Macron, who said that Israel’s assault in Gaza was causing “intolerable” human casualties.
However, Mr. Netanyahu gave his army orders to get ready for a ground attack.
Rafah, where almost 1.4 million Palestinians are seeking refuge, has already been bombarded.
Mr. Netanyahu declared that Hamas, the organization in control of Gaza, had to be driven out of the southern city and threatened to continue with a “powerful” attack.
“We will fight until complete victory and this includes a powerful action also in Rafah after we allow the civilian population to leave the battle zones,” he stated.
Over the phone with Mr. Netanyahu on Wednesday, President Macron declared that Israel’s operations in Gaza “must cease”.
He reiterated “France’s firm opposition to an Israeli offensive in Rafah, which could only lead to a humanitarian disaster of a new magnitude” .
The “grave concern” that a military action in Rafah would be “catastrophic” was expressed by the prime ministers of Australia, Canada, and New Zealand in a joint statement.
“We urge the Israeli government not to go down this path,” the statement said, stressing that “the impacts on Palestinian civilians from an expanded military operation would be devastating” .
While in Israel, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock issued a warning that
