Netanyahu: We Must Continue Fighting in Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Monday that the fighting in the Gaza Strip must continue until the "three war goals" are achieved. Netanyahu made his remarks at the start of a cabinet meeting, drawing a parallel between the current unity of the Israeli people and the path to victory.

Unity as a Key Factor for Victory

Netanyahu began by referencing historical events, saying: "1955 years ago, on the night of August 9, we suffered the greatest defeat in our history... Then, we were divided, we were scattered, and we fought each other." He then contrasted this with the present, emphasizing that the Israeli people "were not divided, but stood together and fought together," which led to "great historical achievements."

Netanyahu stressed that this unity must persist to achieve the declared goals of the war:

1. Defeating the enemy.

2. Releasing the hostages.

3. Ensuring Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel.

Plan to Expand Military Operations

Netanyahu indicated that he would hold a cabinet meeting later in the week to direct the Israeli army toward achieving these goals, "all of them without exception." These statements come amid earlier media reports that Netanyahu is pushing for an expansion of military operations in Gaza.

The news website "Axios" quoted a political source as saying that Netanyahu is working to free the hostages held by Hamas in parallel with a military resolution, as he believes Hamas is not currently interested in a deal.