Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu restated the government’s stance on Thursday, declaring that the military campaign in Gaza would persist until all Israeli objectives were fulfilled, according to Anadolu Agency.
In a televised address quoted by Haaretz, Netanyahu asserted, “I will do everything in my power to ensure that Gaza does not pose a threat to Israel, neither Hamastan nor Fatahstan,” referring to his opposition to maintaining Hamas rule in Gaza and rejecting the Palestinian Authority’s involvement in the region post-conflict.
Reiterating Israel’s goals in the Gaza conflict, he stated, “Hamas must be eliminated, and all hostages must be released.”
As of now, there has been no response from Hamas or the Palestinian Authority regarding Netanyahu’s statements.
Since the October 7 attack by Hamas, Israel has carried out extensive airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of at least 19,667 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, with 52,586 others injured, according to health authorities.
The sustained Israeli offensive has inflicted severe damage on Gaza, leaving half of the coastal territory’s housing in ruins and nearly 2 million people displaced. The densely populated enclave is grappling with shortages of essential supplies such as food and clean water.
In the ongoing conflict, it is estimated that nearly 1,200 Israelis have lost their lives, with almost 130 individuals still held captive following the Hamas attack.