Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu held a press conference last night (Saturday), addressing the renewal of fighting in Gaza, addressing the other fronts where Israel is at war.
Among other things, Netanyahu said “This evening we received difficult news. It finally became clear that Col. Asaf Hamami, a hero of Israel, fell in battle on the 7th of October. Asaf was the commander of the Gaza Division Southern Brigade. Two weeks ago I met with his family. We prayed together for a different result, which to my regret, did not materialize. Asaf was a hero for all of us. May his memory be blessed.”
“Last week we rescued many worlds. We returned 110 souls to Israel. We freed 86 Israeli citizens – children, women, young people, mothers and grandmothers, as well as dozens of foreign nationals. The entire nation and many around the world held their breath as they followed each release.”
How to Deal With the Devil to Free Hostages
“Only one week ago this seemed unbelievable, completely imaginary. And today they are here, wrapped in the love of their families and of the people. How great is the joy of their return, and how great is the pain of those who were murdered amidst terrible brutality and of those who have not yet returned.”
“I deliberated greatly before the decision. I asked myself how does one negotiate with the Satan who murdered, raped, dismembered and burned human beings, women, children and infants, a Satan to whom human life has no value. But at the same time, it was clear to me that we could find a way to rescue dozens of hostages from the Satan's claws. I was not prepared to give up on that possibility.”
“We conducted tough negotiations under fire, from evening to morning and from morning to evening. I spoke frequently with President Biden and we pressed the intermediaries in order to improve the outline. And indeed, we succeeded in considerably improving it.”
“We applied pressure around the world – the Mossad, the negotiating team, the ISA and the IDF. I was in continuous and daily contact with the White House. The efforts were productive; we doubled the number of those who were released but the mission has yet to be completed.”
Netanyahu told of a freed hostage he met: “I met there with heroic fighters and another hero, Mia Regev. Mia was abducted by Hamas murderers from the party at Reim. They shot her and wounded her leg. She endured physical and mental tribulations but she is recovering. She is strong.”
He committed to fighting to the end: “In order to complete the sacred mission of returning all of our hostages, in order to eliminate Hamas, and in order to ensure that Gaza does not go back to constituting a threat to Israel, and that there will be no element there that educates its children for terrorism, supports terrorism finances terrorism and calls for the destruction of Israel – we are continuing to fight with full force. Our soldiers prepared for this during the pause – for absolute victory over Hamas. I met in the field with our fighting men and women who told me: 'Mr. Prime Minister, continue until the end' and I told them: 'To the end – of that there is no question.’”
If Hezbollah Enters the War, Lebanon Will Be Destroyed By Its Hand
Netanyahu also addressed the northern front: “In the north as well, we are taking continuous action against Hezbollah's efforts to act against us. We are thwarting terrorist cells, pushing the enemy away from our border and destroying war materiel. We are continuing with the policy that we have determined: Strong deterrence in the north, clear decision in the south.”
“We are not sitting idly by in the face of the aggression against us. We are returning fire many times over. Let it be clear: We are committed to restoring security both in the south and the north. If Hezbollah makes a mistake and enters into a broad war, it will be destroying Lebanon with its own hands.”
In response to reporters’ questions, Netanyahu said he proposed that he and Defense Minister Gallant conduct a joint press conference but that he decided what he decided. He also added that he does not deal in polls and that “I received a mandate from the citizens of Israel.” He also said that northern residents will return when security is restored and the government would see to that.
In response to Srugim, Netanyahu said that “We are constantly working in coordination with international and American parties, we will lead safe areas where the population in the southern Strip will evacuate to, we have no desire to harm the population, we have a fierce desire to harm Hamas and all terror organizations.”