Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said on Wednesday that Israel would take full control of the Gaza Strip and defeat Hamas, promising that the military campaign would not drag on for much longer.
Speaking at a press conference in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said, "Our forces are taking more and more territory to clear it of terrorists and Hamas terror infrastructure. At the end of this campaign, all of Gaza’s territory will be under Israeli security control, and Hamas will be completely defeated."
He added that Israel was committed to concluding the war and was doing so carefully to avoid unnecessary losses for Israel. "We're proceeding decisively, but carefully, to minimise IDF (Israel defence forces) casualties. This won’t take another year and a half, I promise. I won’t reveal our plans or timeline — but we are determined to finish this."
The Israeli president also pledged to secure the return of all hostages held by Hamas. "There are certainly 20 living hostages remaining, and up to 38 deceased. We will bring them all back," he said, adding that Israel was open to a short-term truce for that purpose.
"If there is an opportunity for a temporary ceasefire to bring back more hostages — and I emphasise: a temporary ceasefire — we are prepared for that," Netanyahu said.
Reiterating his conditions for ending the war, Netanyahu said Israel would stop the fighting only if Hamas relinquished control and all hostages were returned.
"I’m ready to end the war under clear conditions that guarantee Israel’s security. Anyone calling for us to stop fighting before these goals are achieved is essentially calling to leave Hamas in power. We must complete three missions in Gaza: eliminate Hamas, free the hostages, and ensure Gaza is set on a new course."
Netanyahu also announced plans to implement a revised aid system in Gaza, which has drawn intense international scrutiny. He said Israel intends to establish a “sterile zone” — an area cleared of Hamas — where displaced civilians, many of whom have been forced to evacuate and relocate multiple times during the war, would be relocated and provided with humanitarian supplies.
"To maintain our operational freedom, and to ensure our best allies can continue to support us, we must avoid a humanitarian crisis," he said.
Facing mounting international pressure, Israel has recently allowed dozens of aid trucks into Gaza after nearly three months of blocking deliveries of food, medicine, fuel, and other essentials. AFP quotes UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric saying that most of the supplies brought in since Monday were loaded onto UN trucks, and that they remained stuck at the crossing point, unable to be distributed to the wider population.
Speaking at a press conference in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said, "Our forces are taking more and more territory to clear it of terrorists and Hamas terror infrastructure. At the end of this campaign, all of Gaza’s territory will be under Israeli security control, and Hamas will be completely defeated."
He added that Israel was committed to concluding the war and was doing so carefully to avoid unnecessary losses for Israel. "We're proceeding decisively, but carefully, to minimise IDF (Israel defence forces) casualties. This won’t take another year and a half, I promise. I won’t reveal our plans or timeline — but we are determined to finish this."
The Israeli president also pledged to secure the return of all hostages held by Hamas. "There are certainly 20 living hostages remaining, and up to 38 deceased. We will bring them all back," he said, adding that Israel was open to a short-term truce for that purpose.
"If there is an opportunity for a temporary ceasefire to bring back more hostages — and I emphasise: a temporary ceasefire — we are prepared for that," Netanyahu said.
Reiterating his conditions for ending the war, Netanyahu said Israel would stop the fighting only if Hamas relinquished control and all hostages were returned.
"I’m ready to end the war under clear conditions that guarantee Israel’s security. Anyone calling for us to stop fighting before these goals are achieved is essentially calling to leave Hamas in power. We must complete three missions in Gaza: eliminate Hamas, free the hostages, and ensure Gaza is set on a new course."
Netanyahu also announced plans to implement a revised aid system in Gaza, which has drawn intense international scrutiny. He said Israel intends to establish a “sterile zone” — an area cleared of Hamas — where displaced civilians, many of whom have been forced to evacuate and relocate multiple times during the war, would be relocated and provided with humanitarian supplies.
"To maintain our operational freedom, and to ensure our best allies can continue to support us, we must avoid a humanitarian crisis," he said.
Facing mounting international pressure, Israel has recently allowed dozens of aid trucks into Gaza after nearly three months of blocking deliveries of food, medicine, fuel, and other essentials. AFP quotes UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric saying that most of the supplies brought in since Monday were loaded onto UN trucks, and that they remained stuck at the crossing point, unable to be distributed to the wider population.
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