The operation to root out Hamas in Gaza will continue, according to Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. That follows months of pressure from the White House and the international community to stop short of entering Rafah, the last stronghold held by the terrorists. 

Throwing down the gauntlet, Netanyahu stipulated that the operation to take Rafah would occur whether Hamas agreed to a hostage deal or not. 

BREAKING: Netanyahu says Israel will invade Rafah with or without a hostage deal

— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) April 30, 2024

Joe Biden had previously called an invasion of Rafah a "red line" for American support. That threat didn't seem to land, and for good reason. Rafah holds multiple battalions of Hamas fighters and is the command and control center for its leadership. To not move in would be to surrender and concede the fight to the terrorists, who would inevitably regroup and retake most of Gaza in the absence of IDF intervention.

It should also surprise no one that the weeks of pro-Hamas "encampments" on American universities have done nothing to dissuade Israel from doing what needs to be done. On Monday night, rioters at Columbia University stormed the Hamilton Hall, smashing windows and hanging banners reading "intifada." 

READ: Columbia Pro-Hamas Fanatics Storm Hamilton Hall, Barricade Inside and Desecrate Building

Naturally, the pro-Hamas contingent lashed out after Netanyahu's announcement on taking Rafah, suggesting Israel doesn't care about the hostages. That's ludicrous. Israel has offered multiple ceasefire deals to Hamas, all heavily slanted in favor of the terrorist group, in exchange for releasing the hostages. Hamas has rejected every single one.

At some point, reality outweighs want. I'm sure Israel would love to secure the release of the hostages before moving into Rafah, but that just may not be possible. How many hostages are even still alive? Hamas won't say, and it's clear they are being used to delay Israel's advance. That can't be allowed to continue. In the end, the only chance of actually getting the hostages back is by force. Hamas is never going to let go of its bargaining chip willingly.