Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says major operations in Gaza will end ‘very soon’
“It will be very soon,” Netanyahu said when asked in a television interview whether fighting in the southern city of Rafah would end within a month.
It was his first interview with an Israeli media outlet since the October 7 attacks, in which Hamas militants invaded southern Israel from Gaza, killing 1,200 people and kidnapping 250 others. Hamas is considered a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union.
Israel’s response – aimed at returning the hostages and uprooting Hamas as a military and political entity – has killed some 37,000 Palestinians, according to Hamas officials, who do not distinguish between fighters and civilians.
Netanyahu said the next step for the military would be for Israel to redeploy some forces to the north, where trade with Hezbollah has intensified, and repatriate local residents who have been evacuated.
“If we can, we will do it through diplomatic means, otherwise we will do it another way,” Netanyahu said.
U.S. officials fear open war could break out between Israel and Hezbollah, Lebanon’s heavily armed political party and militias backed by Iran.
In the interview, Netanyahu directly rejected, for the first time, the prospect of a ceasefire deal with Hamas that could eventually lead to an end to the war – as outlined by US President Joe Biden in a speech several weeks ago.
“If there is an agreement, it will be on our terms and it will not mean ending the war, withdrawing from Gaza and leaving Hamas power intact,” he said.
“I am prepared to accept a partial agreement that will see some of the Israeli hostages return home, and after this ceasefire ends, we will commit to continuing the fighting until the goal of eliminating the Hamas is hit,” he said.
His interview aroused the anger of the families of the hostages, who accuse him of having abandoned the group of 120 hostages remaining in Gaza, “thus violating the moral duty of the country towards its citizens”, according to a statement from members of the hostages’ families published after the interview.
Netanyahu’s office issued a subsequent statement saying he was in fact determined to bring back all the hostages.
“It is Hamas that opposes a deal, not Israel,” the statement said. “Netanyahu has made it clear that we will not leave Gaza until we return all the hostages, living and deceased. »
Also read:Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu sees end of arms conflict as Defense Minister Yoav Gallant visits US
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