National Security Council Chief Tzachi Hanegbi delivered a statement to the press today (Tuesday), addressing the fronts on which Israel is fighting.
Hanegbi stated that “the operational goal defined for the IDF was the destruction of the governmental and military capabilities of Hamas and Jihad. The first stage is the blocking stage and clearing the area of terrorists. This stage is behind us. The current stage is ground activity. The third stage, an additional goal, is creating the conditions for returning our hostages to their homes. The military effort serves the effort to return the hostages.”
He also said that “to realize the purpose of the war and primarily Hamas, we needed to make a mental shift. The cabinet took leave of the operative terminology, all the terms of the past dissipated, there is no round. The residents of Gaza are nothing more than human dust in Hamas’ eyes providing it protection. Hamas needs to cease to exist, this was the cabinet’s decision.”
Hanegbi addressed the cabinet discussions, saying “in the discussions there are exchanges of views, the issues are painful and fateful. In the end, a shared decision was formed: monstrous terrorist organizations must never be allowed to rule the Gaza Strip again. Biden’s standing by us has enormous value,” said Hanegbi, “it allows us to fight an unprecedented war against terrorism.”
