Gaza war: Netanyahu vows to defeat Hamas in Rafah despite US arms threat

Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed Israel can "stand alone", after the US warned arms shipments could be stopped if he orders a full-scale invasion of Rafah in Gaza

Thousands of people have already fled the southern city after the Israeli military began what it called a "limited" operation on Monday.

US President Joe Biden has repeatedly warned against the operation, saying that it would cross a "red line".

But Mr Netanyahu dismissed the US warning, saying Israel would fight on.

"If we need to ... we will stand alone. I have said that if necessary we will fight with our fingernails," the prime minister said.

Mr Netanyahu also invoked the war of 1948 - where the newly formed State of Israel was attacked by a coalition of Arab states - to dismiss the US warnings.

"In the War of Independence 76 years ago, we were the few against the many," he said "We did not have weapons. There was an arms embargo on Israel, but with great strength of spirit, heroism and unity among us - we were victorious."