Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed on Saturday evening in a nationally broadcast address that the war against Hamas would continue until all of Israel’s objectives are achieved.
“Our war is not over,” Netanyahu declared. “We will not end this war until Hamas is destroyed, all our hostages are returned, and it is ensured that Gaza can never again pose a threat to Israel.”
At the beginning of his speech, Netanyahu paid tribute to Staff Sgt. Maj. G’haleb Alnasasra, who fell in northern Gaza, and wished the wounded soldiers a speedy recovery. “The entire people of Israel bows its head to his heroism,” he said. “We are in a war of redemption on seven fronts. It comes at a high cost, but we are fighting for our survival—until victory.”
So far, a total of 196 hostages have been returned—147 of them alive. According to Israeli sources, 24 hostages are still believed to be alive in Gaza, while 35 have been officially declared dead.
Netanyahu also revealed that Hamas recently rejected a proposal that could have led to the release of half of the remaining living hostages. Instead, the terrorist organization demanded to preserve its rule in the Gaza Strip.
The prime minister firmly rejected calls for a ceasefire, stressing that Israel would not accept any conditions that would allow Hamas to rearm. “If we submit to Hamas’s dictates, we send a message to all our enemies that the abduction of Israelis leads to victory,” he warned. “Such a capitulation would be a strategic defeat for Israel and a major victory for Iran.”
Netanyahu reaffirmed his long-standing commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. “I will not yield—not even a millimeter,” he said. Addressing past critics of his hardline stance, he added: “Without our actions, Iran would have had nuclear weapons ten years ago.”
Finally, Netanyahu criticized domestic media and commentators who advocate for indirect negotiations or temporary truces with Hamas. “They echo Hamas propaganda and prolong the captivity of our hostages,” he said.
Concluding his speech ahead of Israel’s Memorial Day and Independence Day, Netanyahu struck a determined tone:
“Together we will stand. Together we will fight. And with God’s help, together we will win.”
