By Luis de Jesus
28 Oct 2023, 9:30 PM EDT
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this Saturday that the offensive against the Hamas terrorist group will be long and with the objective of rescuing the 229 people who remain kidnapped in the Gaza Strip. The statements were made after his country began the land phase of the conflict, which began on October 7 with aerial bombardments over the strip.
“In the first weeks of the war, we have bombed the enemy with massive airstrikes and, in recent days, even more to help our ground forces enter as safely as possible,” he said in his first press appearance since that the attacks began.
“The war inside the Gaza Strip will be hard and long, but we are prepared. This is our second war of liberation. We are going to fight to protect the country. And we will do it by land, sea and air. We will eliminate the enemy above and below the ground,” he added.
Benjamin Netanyahu said that the Israeli Army is willing to fight against an enemy that he described as fierce and cruel to “revenge the atrocities” it committed after its violent incursion into the country.
Benjamin Netanyahu avoided talking about responsibility
The Israeli prime minister, however, avoided talking about his alleged responsibility for the October 7 attack, which would be related to alleged security failures that facilitated the entry of Hamas.
“After the war, everyone will have to give answers, including myself. Not a stone will be left unturned,” said the official, who emphasized that attention is now focused on winning the conflict against Hamas and saving the Israeli State.
The prime minister was asked during his appearance about Iran’s possible participation in these events, to which he responded that there is no certainty that the Iranian regime has supported the terrorist organization in that operation, although he stated that “without Iran Hamas would not exist.” ”.
“There are moments where a nation faces the possibilities of being or not being. Now we are in such a test. And there is no doubt how it will end: we will be the ones to prevail. We will be here and we will win. Since the beginning of the war, we have managed to consolidate vast international support that begins with the United States and Europe,” said Benjamin Netanyahu.
Keep reading:
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