JERUSALEM —Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahustated that he visited Gaza this Monday and promised to “intensify” the fighting in the Palestinian territory against the terrorist group Hamas.
“I am returning now from Gaza. We are not going to stop, we continue fighting and we are going to intensify the fighting in the coming days. It will be a long war that is not close to ending,” he said Netanyahuaccording to a statement from his party, the Likud.
Netanyahu stressed that the war against the terrorist group Hamas “is not close to over.”
“We will not stop, we will continue fighting and deepen the fighting in the coming days, and this will be a long battle and it is not close to over,” said the Israeli prime minister, according to ‘The Times of Israel’.
Likewise, Netanyahu stated that “patience” and “unity” are necessary, as well as consensus around the “mission” that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carry out in the Gaza Strip after the Hamas massacre of October 7.
The terrorist group carried out a series of unprecedented attacks against Israeli territory in early October, leaving almost 1,200 dead and 240 people kidnapped, several of whom were released during a week-long truce at the end of November.
The IDF, for its part, responded with a bloody counteroffensive against Hamas structures in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli military campaign has already left more than 20,000 Palestinians dead and more than 50,000 injured.
High price
Netanyahustated this Sunday that the country pays “a high price for the war” in Gaza, after the death of 14 soldiers since Friday in the fighting against the Palestinian movement Hamas.
“We are paying a high price for the war, but there is no other option but to continue fighting,” he declared. Netanyahu at the beginning of a cabinet meeting after paying tribute to the dead soldiers and warning that the conflict will be “long.”
“We will continue with all our strength until the end, until victory, until we achieve all our objectives: the destruction of Hamas, the return of the hostages and a guarantee that Gaza will never again constitute a threat to the State of Israel” , said.
Eliminate Hamas
Israel vowed to annihilate Hamas, following the unprecedented October 7 attack launched by its militants from the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli military response has left 20,424 dead in Gaza, according to Hamas, the terrorist movement that governs the Palestinian territory.
Since Israel began its ground offensive in Gaza on October 27, 153 Israeli soldiers have been killed.
“I will be clear: the war will be long (…) until Hamas is eliminated and we restore security in both the north and the south,” he added. Netanyahu.
Nearly 250 people were taken hostage during the attack launched by Hamas in southern Israel. There are still 129 people held captive in Gaza, although some of the hostages are feared dead.
Source: With information from Europa Press and AFP
