Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, has pledged to destroy Hamas and secure the release of all hostages held by the extremist organization. Following the fifth round of a hostage-prisoner exchange in Gaza under a temporary truce agreement, he made these remarks on Saturday.
“We will eliminate Hamas, and we will return our hostages,” Netanyahu declared in a video statement. He condemned Hamas as “monsters” and accused them of inhumane treatment of captives after three hostages were released in a visibly weakened state.
Netanyahu Remarks
Netanyahu did not hold back his criticism of Hamas, blaming them for the suffering of Israeli hostages. “We have once again seen what the Hamas monsters are. They are the same monsters who slaughtered our citizens and abused our captives,” he stated.
He assured the public that the government was working to secure the release of all remaining hostages. He emphasized that Israel’s negotiating team has been directed to prioritize the safety of those still in captivity.
Netanyahu also drew parallels between his stance and that of former U.S. President Donald Trump, who, he claimed, fully supported the mission to eradicate Hamas. “President Trump agreed with me totally: we will do everything to return all the hostages, but Hamas won’t be there. We will eliminate Hamas, and return all our captives,” Netanyahu asserted.
His strong words indicate that Israel is unlikely to stop its military operations against Hamas even as negotiations continue. Though the long-running battle between Israel and Hamas appears to be continuing, the most recent prisoner-hostage exchange has sparked optimism for additional releases.
Tensions At Peak
The situation is still precarious even with the current ceasefire. Although the hostage-prisoner negotiations have brought some short-term respite, Netanyahu’s promise to destroy Hamas raises the possibility that the crisis may flare up once more. Peace is still elusive despite the international community’s persistent efforts to find a more durable solution.
