Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Israel will “stand firm against the world if necessary” to defeat Hamas as he pushed back at international pressure to slow down or even stop the war against the terror group.
The Israeli Prime Minister, along with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Minister Benny Gantz, rejected mounting criticism from around the world, urging Western leaders to throw their support behind its fight against Hamas.
During a press conference, he urged worldwide backing for his opposition to a ceasefire in Gaza, and called on Americans to join the demand for the destruction of Hamas.
He said: “Don’t cave to the pressure. Our war is your war. Israel has to win for its own sake and for the world.”
The Israeli leader added that “no international pressure, no false allegations about IDF soldiers and our state” will impact his country’s insistence on protecting itself.
Netanyahu also asserted that Israel will “stand firm against the world if necessary” as he looked to hit back at recent international criticism.
The comments came after several countries recently expressed concern over the dwindling humanitarian situation and the civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip.
On Friday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken pleaded for more to be done to protect civilians in Gaza and ensure humanitarian aid reaches them, saying that “far too many Palestinians have been killed” during the war.
During the press conference, Netanyahu also took aim at remarks from Emmanuel Macron, after the French president said there was “no justification” for bombing in Gaza and went as far as saying a ceasefire would be in Israel’s best interest.
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Addressing those comments, the Israeli leader said: “He made a serious mistake, factually and morally. It’s Hamas preventing the evacuation of civilians, not Israel.
He explained it was Hamas, not Israel, that has fired on the humanitarian corridor established for northern Gazans to evacuate, and that the terror group is using the civilians as human shields.
Netanyahu said: “It’s not Israel that locates itself in hospitals, in schools, in UNRWA and UN facilities — it’s Hamas. Therefore, it is not Israel but Hamas that is responsible for harm to civilians.
“And I say to the president of France and our other friends — it will reach you too. Immunity must not given to terrorists who carry out this double war crime.
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“We are truly doing everything to minimize harm to civilians or noncombatants, but we will not give Hamas the license to murder our citizens without our response. We can do without the moral preaching.”
The Israeli Prime Minister added the military will remain in Gaza “as long as necessary” so it can’t be used as a launchpad for terror attacks on Israel.
He said: “Hamas will be demilitarized; there will be no further threat from the Gaza Strip on Israel, and to ensure that, for all long as necessary, IDF will control Gaza security to prevent terror from there.”
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