Despite international warnings, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Saturday that an Israeli military offensive would be launched in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. “Of course, only after we make it possible for civilians in the combat zones to move to safe areas,” Netanyahu told journalists in Jerusalem. He emphasized that they would not bow to international pressure on this issue. “Anyone who wants to prevent us from operating in Rafah is ultimately telling us ‘lose the war’.” He would not allow this to happen. Netanyahu said that “the score will be settled” with the Ham…