Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at a press conference in
Tel Aviv, Israel, on Oct. 30, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]
Amid talks to extend the ceasefire in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated on Wednesday that his country will resume the military campaign to eradicate Hamas.
"There is no situation in which we do not go back to fighting until the end. This is my policy," Netanyahu said in a video statement Wednesday afternoon, adding that the entire security cabinet and government, the soldiers, and the Israeli people are all "behind it."
"From the start of the war, I set three goals: eliminating Hamas, returning all of our hostages, and ensuring that Gaza will never again go back to being a threat to the State of Israel. These three goals still stand," he stressed.
Netanyahu noted that in the past week "a very great achievement" was made, referring to the return of dozens of hostages, among approximately 240 kidnapped by Hamas militants in their deadly attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7.
With the truce set to expire on Thursday, intensive discussions are underway to secure a second extension to the ceasefire that will see more hostages released, and more humanitarian aid delivered to Gaza.
