New Delhi: Amidst the conflict with Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasised that Israel is engaged in a battle for its existence, reiterating his commitment to safeguarding the nation. Netanyahu also assured that a ground incursion aimed at dismantling Hamas in Gaza would commence shortly, as reported by The Times of Israel on Wednesday.
PM Netanyahu said Israel is getting ready for a ground operation. The Israeli Prime Minister said that he would not share when, how, and the range of considerations involved.
“We are preparing for a ground incursion. I won’t specify when, how, how many. I also won’t detail the range of considerations, most of which the public is not aware of. And that’s the way it is supposed to be. This is the way, so that we protect our soldiers’ lives.”
In an address to the nation, PM Netanyahu said, “Israel is in the midst of a fight for our existence. The war’s two aims are “to eliminate Hamas by destroying its military and governance capabilities, and to do everything possible to get our hostages back.”
According to The Times of Israel, Netanyahu added, “All Hamas members are dead men walking — above and below ground, inside and outside Gaza. Together with Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, Minister Benny Gantz, the security cabinet, the chief of staff and heads of the security organisations, we are working around the clock in order to achieve the war aims until victory, and doing so without political considerations.”
Netanyahu says there was a unanimous decision about the timing of the ground incursion. “The timing of the operation was determined unanimously by the war cabinet and the chief of staff,” he says.
Netanyahu stresses that Israel is enlisting the help of world leaders and that they now understand that “Hamas is ISIS, and ISIS is Hamas.”
The Times of Israel reported that PM Netanyahu said the war is one for the sake of all humanity and that the world now understands that Israel’s fight is their fight, that this is a fight of light against darkness.