Netanyahu: "It is impossible to support the elimination of Hamas while also pushing for ending the fighting"

Against the background of calls around the world for an end to the war and the American veto imposed at the United Nations on the cease-fire proposal, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu addressed the Israeli effort this morning (Sunday) at the beginning of the cabinet meeting and clarified that the war must continue in order to bring about the elimination of Hamas.

"The war continues even more intensely, in the north and the south of Gaza, to achieve all its goals: the elimination of Hamas, the return of all our hostages, and the promise that Gaza will never again be a threat to Israel," Netanyahu said. "Today another shipment of important ammunition will arrive for the continuation of the war. I thank President Biden for the fact that the USA has stood up in the right and just way in the Security Council and also for the material aid it gives to Israel."

"In the last few days, I also spoke with President Macron, Chancellor Scholz, and other leaders, and I told them that it is impossible to support on one hand the elimination of Hamas and on the other hand to pressure us to end the war - which will prevent the elimination of Hamas," he clarified. "I think that in this struggle, justice is with us and unity is with us. When we are united as a people and as a country, no force can prevent us from doing the right thing."

He also said that "at the same time we are building and rehabilitating our settlements in the Gaza Envelope, we have transferred budgets for this and to ensure that no one is left behind. We are busy not only with rehabilitation, but also with the goal of bringing about that they will prosper and flourish to change a generation, and overcome what was."

Netanyahu added and also referred to the events of antisemitism around the world and the attitude towards Israel in universities when he claimed that, "a tremendous wave of antisemitism is igniting on campuses and bursting forth. There were deep foundations that are being manifested now, and the important thing that is happening now is that members and leaders of the Jewish community are standing up against this anti-Semitism. This is the only way to fight it, And I congratulate them for that."