Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented on the progress of the war against Hamas and Israel's goals in the war at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting today (Monday).
"We are in the middle of the war, we have set a clear goal to destroy the military and governmental capabilities of Hamas. We are doing these things systematically; first of all, the containment phase that has ended. The second phase - an air strike phase that continues all the time. The third phase - the IDF is expanding its ground entry into the Gaza Strip. It does so in measured, very powerful steps while making systematic progress one step at a time," Netanyahu said.
He continued: "I have to say that we place our full trust, both in the [security] system, and in the leadership under the Chief of Staff, and we do so with the entire nation and the entire leadership of the nation. There will also be further steps, we can't detail them here, but we are talking about them within the war cabinet."
He also said: "At the same time, we are working to actively deter the northern front, and I repeat to Hezbollah - you will make the mistake of your life if you decide to fully intervene in the campaign, you will suffer a blow that you cannot even imagine."
"We continue our efforts to free the abductees, even during the operation, and the operation even creates opportunities to achieve their liberation and we will not miss these opportunities. This campaign will take time, there will be bumps, there will be difficulties, there will be losses, there will also be surprises, but in the end, I promise you one thing: Hamas will be crippled. Hamas will be defeated, Gaza will be different.
"For this purpose we need spirit and we need time. To produce the time, we need to ensure political support. I am in daily contact with the US president, our team talks to their counterparts all the time. We make it clear that it is not only our war that we are fighting, but their war as well; Because if Hamas is not defeated, then the axis of evil will win, and if the axis of evil wins, the free world will lose. The Western world and the entire Arab world will lose, and there will be a great threat to humanity. Our battle is a battle for our existence, but it is also a battle for their future. Well, this is a political effort, as I explained, and everyone who can volunteer to participate should do so.
"The second effort is a humanitarian effort. Both because it is fundamentally the right thing to do, and also because it helps in terms of supporting our forces. We are trying to move the population to the south of the Gaza Strip, we have created a 'safe zone' there - a safe zone, where we want to direct the humanitarian aid. We are doing it and we coordinate it with our American friends. It's a process that also takes time.
"The third effort is the financial effort, I know that you ministers are doing a great job. We will have to do much more, it will cost a lot of money - which is a secondary consideration to us. We will do what is necessary, we will do more, and it is also important that you present the things you are doing to the public in an orderly manner.
In addition, he said: "Above all, what is needed is unity. We established a national emergency government for the war, the people are united right now as they have never been before. There is a fighting spirit among the soldiers ... Just to see them is simply imbued with fire because they understand that we are fighting for our existence, and it is this unity that will be the deciding factor."
"I ask you, everyone, if you have questions, suggestions, ideas, my door is open - come to me. We also have a team working on this matter, I would love to hear from you. But the main thing is - together we will win."
