Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, during a visit with Israeli forces stationed in northern Gaza, declared that Hamas would continue to face escalating military pressure.
“We insist that it release our hostages, and we insist on achieving all our war aims,” Netanyahu told the troops, as military drones buzzed in the skies above.
Netanyahu also held up a printed copy of a social media message from Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, pointing out that the post included another call for the destruction of Israel.
“He is doing this during negotiations with the Americans,” Netanyahu noted, referring to the recently initiated nuclear discussions between the U.S. and Iran that kicked off in Oman last weekend—talks that Israel has long viewed with deep suspicion.
Defense Minister Yisroel Katz, who stood beside Netanyahu during the visit, emphasized that Israel would never permit Hamas “to threaten our communities and our citizens, and therefore, the operation that is currently taking place is pressuring Hamas to first release the hostages.”
Katz added, “The more it persists in its refusal, the more we will intensify the blows it will suffer until it is defeated and all the hostages are returned.”
Also present during the tour were top military and security leaders, including IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, Southern Command leader Maj. Gen. Yaniv Asor, National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi, and other senior officials.
{Matzav.com}