Israeli prime minister says 8,000 Hamas terrorists killed, but current war will take ‘many more months.’
By David Rosenberg, World Israel News
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ruled out stepping down from office after the current war in Gaza, telling reporters he plans to stay in office even after the Hamas terror organization has been defeated.
Speaking at a press conference at IDF headquarters Saturday evening, Netanyahu said that he plans “to get rid of Hamas, but won’t get rid of my job,” in response to questions about the day after the current war.
“The only thing I’m going to resign from is Hamas,” Netanyahu continued.
The prime minister also said that the war in Gaza will not be completed in the foreseeable future.
“The war is continuing. We are fighting on all fronts. We have major successes but we have also paid a painful price. Achieving victory requires more time. Just as the Chief of Staff said this week: ‘The war will continue for many more months.'”
Netanyahu reiterated his pledge to destroy Hamas and return all Israelis held captive in Gaza, and to restore security on both the northern and southern fronts.
“We are continuing to fight until the goals of the war have been achieved, especially the elimination of Hamas and the release of all our hostages.”
“We are not relenting – even for a moment – in our efforts to bring our hostages back home, even at this very moment. We will ensure that Gaza no longer constitutes a threat to Israel, that there will be no element in it that finances terrorism, educates its children for terrorism and pays the families of terrorists.”
The Israeli premier said he “rejected the international pressure aimed at stopping the war before we achieve these goals.”
The IDF has eliminated over 8,000 terrorists in the Gaza Strip, Netanyahu said.
“We are eliminating many more on each day of fighting. Step by step, we are wiping out Hamas’s capabilities. Hamas will be defeated. Our soldiers will win. The people of Israel will win.”
Israel is also “striking harsh blows at Hezbollah,” Netanyahu told reporters, “eliminating many terrorists and are destroying the enemy’s capabilities.”
“In Judea and Samaria,” he continued, “we are working around the clock to arrest terrorists, to eliminate terrorists and to thwart many attacks.”
“Since Operation Defensive Shield, there has been no operation in Judea and Samaria of such magnitude,” Netanyahu said, referencing the 2002 counter-terror sweep carried out by the IDF at the height of the Second Intifada.