Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has said a military operation in Rafah will go ahead “with or without” a ceasefire to destroy what he says are four Hamas battalions in the city. Hamas insists there can be no deal without a commitment to permanently end the war. Far right members of the Israeli coalition cabinet are warning Mr Netanyahu against compromise. The Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, a standard bearer for the settler movement, has called for “absolute destruction” in Rafah, saying there can be no “half work”.