As the IDF pushes deeper into Gaza City, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel will not settle for anything less than Hamas’s complete defeat.
“If Hamas harms even a single hostage, their leaders will be hunted down until the end of their lives,” Netanyahu warned Tuesday. His comments followed reports that Hamas is holding hostages in densely populated areas to deter Israeli strikes.
Netanyahu dismissed leaks of alleged disagreements with IDF commanders as harmful “biased briefings” that endanger soldiers and delay the release of hostages.
He also emphasized the importance of encouraging civilians to leave Gaza City, noting that nearly 400,000 have already evacuated. “We want this war to end quickly — but not in defeat,” he said. Allowing Hamas to survive, he argued, would embolden Iran and its allies.
International pressure against Israel is mounting, with several European nations considering arms embargoes. Netanyahu insisted that Israel must be prepared to manufacture its own weapons and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers.
“We will arm ourselves and defend ourselves,” he said. “The lesson of this war is clear: Israel must stand strong and independent.”
