In his statement, Netanyahu said, "Citizens of Israel, we are in an existential war against the Axis of Evil led by Iran. The first condition for victory is unity within us. We need to stand united as one against a cruel enemy that wants to destroy us all without exception. Left and right, religious and secular, Jews and non-Jews. We discovered this not only on October 7 but throughout the war, especially in the horrific massacre of our hostages. Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Hirsch Goldberg-Polin, Sasha Lubanov, Almog Sarusi, and Uri Danino—may their memory be a blessing."
In the past 24 hours, Netanyahu spoke with the families of the murdered hostages and, looking at their photos during the conversation, he said his heart was shattered. "You see the light that emanates from them, their nobility and hope. All this purity was cut short by the cruel hand of Hamas. I told the families I ask for your forgiveness that we did not bring them back alive. We were close, but we did not succeed. Israel will not simply let this massacre pass; Hamas will pay a heavy price."
"If We Abandon Control, Gaza Will Become a Terror Enclave"
Netanyahu explained the significance of the Philadelphi Route: "In this specific war against Hamas, we have set four goals: to eliminate Hamas, to return our hostages, to ensure Gaza does not pose a threat, and to restore the security of the northern residents. Three of these goals pass through one conduit: the Philadelphi Route."
He added, "I will explain the meaning and importance of this route to ensure there will not be another October 7."
Netanyahu proceeded to show a presentation on the strategic importance of the Philadelphi Route and addressed questions: "The question is: Why haven’t you conquered the route if it is so important?"
He continued, "There has been constant arming, and we fought them in a series of wars: Operation Protective Edge, Operation Pillar of Defense, Operation Cast Lead. We eliminated senior officials, but there was no national or international legitimacy to enter and retake the Philadelphi Route. This route will not be evacuated; if we relinquish control, Gaza will become a terror enclave."
Netanyahu emphasized, "The Axis of Evil needs the Philadelphi Route. That is why Hamas insists that we not be there. That is why I insist that we remain."
He added, "In 2004, I said if Israel abandons control of the route, Gaza will become a terror enclave. In 2005, I told Sharon that the minimum requirement is to keep the route in our hands. This is not new. It was clear that without this route, there would be arming and the creation of a monster. The Axis of Evil needs the Philadelphi Route. For that reason, we must control it."
"I Will Not Yield to Pressure"
Netanyahu responded to suggestions that Israel should withdraw, saying, "I said we have been through this scenario before. When we withdrew from Lebanon, we had to retake the area with international legitimacy after the first rocket. We said we withdrew from the Gaza Strip, so what’s the problem? With the first rocket, we should have entered. Twenty years have passed, and we did not enter. Anyone who says we should enter is underestimating the problem. It is not easy to do. It involves immense international political pressure; if you leave, you do not come back."
He recounted the difficulties of entering Rafah and the heavy price paid: "We faced tremendous pressure at The Hague. We suffered a weapons embargo and paid with the lives of our soldiers. But this is nothing compared to what will be directed at us if we leave the Philadelphi Route. Everyone simply wants us to end the war. This route is different from all other routes; it is central, determines the entire future, and is of immense importance. The world will not want us to enter again. In the Security Council, I won’t elaborate. Why enter this trap? We are told it’s possible, but it will not bring back the hostages; on the contrary."
He concluded, "When we entered the Philadelphi Route, we felt a change. For many months after the first deal, Hamas insisted we declare the war over. The first crack was when we entered Rafah and took control of the route. They then pulled back a bit because they thought Iran or Hezbollah would come to their rescue, and now they hope for international pressure."
He added that their goal is to prevent the smuggling of hostages and to secure their return. "Hamas is building on internal divisions, but it is mistaken. I will not yield to pressure; our people will not yield to this pressure. It is not important what is seen on television. Sinwar, forget it; it will not happen. We must stand united for our existential interests, acting together so that the other side understands that we are not conceding on essential matters. In existential issues, we stand together. When Hamas understands this, a deal will be possible. When it understands this, we will secure our existence and future. Together we will stand, together we will fight, and with God's help, we will prevail."