According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the war in the Middle East will last months. Israel is fighting on “all fronts”, he said in a televised speech yesterday.
Israeli forces are involved in a “complex battle” and need time to achieve their objectives, Netanyahu said. “The war will continue for many months until Hamas is eliminated and the hostages are returned.”
According to Israeli information, 129 hostages remain detained in the Gaza Strip. Yesterday, hundreds of people demonstrated again in Tel Aviv for his release.
Netanyahu: “Taking away Hamas’ capabilities”
“We will ensure that the Gaza Strip no longer poses a threat to Israel,” Netanyahu said. Around 8,000 fighters have already been killed in the Israeli military campaign in Palestinian territory. “Step by step we are eliminating Hamas’ capabilities,” Netanyahu said. The leaders would also be “eliminated”.
Netanyahu also said that Israel should control the border region between the Gaza Strip and Egypt in the future. “The Philadelphia Corridor – or rather, the southern tip of the Gaza Strip – must be in our hands,” Netanyahu said. The area must be closed. “It is clear that any other agreement would not guarantee the demilitarization we seek,” Netanyahu said.