Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has stated that his country is on its way to a “decisive” victory, adding that it is “in our hands … in a matter of months.”
Netanyahu made these comments at a news conference in West Jerusalem, after meeting with U.S Secretary of State, Antony Blinken.
Blinken arrived in Israel on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, as part of his fifth tour of the Middle East.
Netanyahu asserted that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are working systematically and will achieve all the objectives of the war: to release all the hostages and eliminate Hamas.
He said that the IDF’s achievements have been “unprecedented.”
“We have directed the IDF to operate in Rafah, the last stronghold of Hamas. Now is the time for the IDF to allow safe corridors for residents.
“We do not come back until we win,” he declared, adding, “I would like to emphasise once again – there is no other solution other than complete and decisive victory.”
Netanyahu said Israel must bring “absolute victory,” which means eliminating Hamas, a complete dismantling of all their battalions, and destroying the entire underground tunnel network.
He said that he has “grappled with a number of prominent peace agreements”, and that he believes there will be a deal.
“But we will not manage to reach those agreements and those peace treaties and normalisation without beating Hamas,” he added.
Also, Netanyahu said that he told the U.S Secretary of state, Antony Blinken, that Israel will ensure that the Gaza Strip will be demilitarised forever after Hamas is eliminated.
“Not part of Hamas, not half of Hamas, but the entire Hamas,” he pronounced.
Netanyahu noted that Israel Defense Forces will act “wherever and at any time that is necessary” in Gaza.
Asked about demands put forward by Hamas to release Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Israeli hostages, Netanyahu remarked that Israel has “committed to anything.”
“We haven’t committed to … really enormous numbers that they’re talking about … of terrorists that we are to release. There are supposed to be some kind of process of negotiations with the mediators, but from what I’ve seen after the response of Hamas, I don’t know what is happening.”
Benjamin Netanyahu
Moreover, Netanyahu also called for the replacement of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA.
He asserted that Israel believes that up to 60% of humanitarian aid going into Gaza is being taken by Hamas, and that he has instructed officials to find a solution that would prevent that from happening.
Hamas Responds To Netanyahu’s News Conference
A senior Hamas official responded to Benjamin Netanyahu’s news conference, saying that the Israeli Prime Minister has showed that he intends to pursue conflict in the Middle East.
Netanyahu’s comments are “a form of political bravado, indicating his intention to pursue the conflict in the region,” Sami Abu Zuhri told a news agency.
Hamas is “prepared to deal with all the options,” he added.
Separately, Hamas official Osama Hamdan, in a news conference from Beirut, said that the ongoing war in Gaza shows the lack of will on behalf of the international community as well as its double standards.
On the 124th day of the Gaza war, Hamdan says, the humanitarian crisis is deepening as Israel continues to bombard the besieged strip and prevents aid from relief organisations.
“The occupation continues to carry out executions and has shelled aid convoys as well as pushing the displaced to leave shelters and hospitals, all of which shows its sadism and brutality,” he said.
He added, “We warn the occupation from carrying out massacres at Al-Amal and Nasser hospitals and we hold the US administration responsible for providing Israel with all the support.”
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