Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a speech on Saturday that Israel’s war against Hamas would continue at “full force” and that nothing would stop the country as it tracks down and kills every member of the terrorist group.
Netanyahu made the remarks at a press conference with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Minister Benny Gantz at the Kirya in Tel Aviv.
The remarks come as Israel enters its sixth week of war against Hamas after the Palestinian terrorist group murdered 1,200 Israeli civilians, wounded 5,300, and took more than 240 hostage.
“The war against Hamas-ISIS is advancing at full force and it has one goal – victory. There is no substitute for victory. We will eliminate Hamas and bring back our hostages,” he said. “IDF forces have completed the encirclement of the city of Gaza. They are operating in the heart of the city and are on the outskirts of Shifa Hospital. They have eliminated thousands of terrorists including senior commanders and arch-murderers who were among those involved in the terrible massacre on the cursed Saturday of October 7.”
Netanyahu said that Hamas has lost control of the northern Gaza Strip and that it has no place to hide as Israeli forces hunt them down.
“From Sinwar to the last terrorist – all of Hamas are dead men,” he said. “Our forces are attacking them above ground and underground. We will continue at full force, at full strength, until victory.”
He added that Israel was also prepared to wipe out Hezbollah in Lebanon if the Iranian-backed terrorist group escalate their attacks on Israel. He noted that Israel is also striking terrorist targets in Judea and Samaria, Lebanon, Syria, the Red Sea, and elsewhere.
“The return of our hostages is a main goal of the war,” he said. “This goal is the top priority for me and my colleagues here. To this end, I convene in-depth discussions on a daily basis in the War Cabinet that I chair. When I meet with representatives of the families – this past Thursday, I had an additional very emotional meeting together with my wife – when I meet with them, I see the nightmare and the pain in their eyes. I tell them: ‘We will do everything to bring them back.'”
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“About the hostages, my directive and that of the Cabinet is clear: There will be no ceasefire without the return of our hostages,” he continued. “I would also like to clarify that the holding of the international contacts on the release of the hostages is being carried out by Mossad Director David Barnea, with the assistance of Maj.-Gen. (Ret.) Nitzan Alon, and when we have something to say, something concrete, we will update the families and submit it to the full Government. Until then, prudence would dictate silence.”
He urged Western leaders not to cave to minority voices in their countries who are demanding that a ceasefire be put into place.
“No international pressure, or reviling of IDF soldiers and our state will change our faith in the justice of our cause and in our right and our obligation to defend ourselves,” he said, later adding: “Hamas needs to be eliminated. If we want to ensure the future of the State of Israel – Hamas needs to be eliminated. This is what Israel must do and this is what Israel will do.”