Israel's Goal: to Annihilate Hamas, Says Netanyahu

Israel will not cease military operations against the Palestinian militant group Hamas until it is completely destroyed, stated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“The war can end tomorrow if Hamas lays down its weapons and releases all remaining hostages. Given Hamas's refusal to lay down its arms, Israel has no choice but to finish what it started and finally crush Hamas,” he said.

Netanyahu indicated that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have been instructed to “eliminate the remaining two Hamas strongholds in Gaza City and central Gaza.”

He deemed the demands of the Palestinian militants for the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, as well as the necessary international guarantees that would prevent the resumption of hostilities, as unacceptable. “These are conditions of capitulation that no responsible government would agree to accept, and of course, I will not accept them,” emphasized the Israeli Prime Minister.