Not only does this announcement reinforce Israel’s unity government policy after the 10/7 massacres, it’s also a clear statement of fact. Seventeen years of constant rocket fire from Hamas-controlled Gaza and oft-repeated rounds of cease-fires and Hamas violations make this a declaration of the obvious from Benjamin Netanyahu.
And for that matter, it’s also an acknowledgment of Hamas’ own claims that war will not end until either they or Israel are annihilated. Netanyahu alludes to this with his use of “never again”:
In a video statement, Netanyahu says the chief goals of the war are “eliminating” the Gaza-ruling terror group, bringing home all hostages taken in the October 7 massacres, and ensuring the enclave “never again returns to being a threat to Israel.”
Ahead of the expected release of a sixth group of hostages this evening, Netanyahu hails the return of abducted Israelis, which he says last week sounded “imaginary.”
“In recent days I’ve heard a question: Will Israel return to fighting after this stage of returning our hostages is over? My response is an unequivocal yes,” the premier says. “There is no way we won’t return to fighting…
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