Israeli government and military leaders stepped up their war rhetoric on Wednesday as a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas looms.
“In recent days I have heard this question: Will Israel fight again after exploiting this phase of repatriating our hostages? “So my answer is clear: yes,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The ceasefire ends Thursday at 7 a.m. local time (midnight ET).
Netanyahu promised that Israel would fight to the end.
“This is my policy, the whole cabinet is behind it, the whole government is behind it, the soldiers are behind it, the people are behind it – that is exactly what we will do,” the Prime Minister said.
Negotiators are working on a further possible extension of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which is now in its sixth day. Key mediator Qatar is “very optimistic” that an extension will be announced, a State Department spokesman told CNN on Wednesday.
A senior Israeli official said earlier that Israel was trying to find out “whether there is a possibility” of extending the ceasefire with Hamas.
The Israeli military is prepared for the next phase of the Gaza war when the ceasefire ends, Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi said, according to an IDF statement on Wednesday.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant echoed Halevi, saying: “IDF forces in the air, on the ground and at sea are ready to resume their operations immediately.” [should the decision be made].”
However, Gallant added that Israel is “taking all possible measures to return the hostages and maximize the current framework under which all women and children held hostage in Gaza are released.”
Meanwhile, Benny Gantz, who is part of the emergency war cabinet, noted on Wednesday that “we are in difficult moments and within a window of opportunity for the return of our hostages.”
“We will work to exploit it as much as possible. At the same time, we are prepared and ready to return to the fight at any time, including in these moments,” he said.
Gantz emphasized that the fighting would continue and that it would “spread to everywhere in the Gaza Strip where it is needed. There will be no cities of refuge.”
Halevi, the military’s chief of staff, approved plans for the next stage of the military operation in Gaza on Wednesday, according to the IDF.
On Tuesday, Halevi said the Israeli military was using the pause to increase its combat readiness.
“The IDF is ready to continue the fight. “We use the days of rest as part of the framework to learn, strengthen our readiness and approve future operational plans,” Halevi told a group of soldiers in northern Israel.