Netanyahu's fiery speech: "Hamas will face unimaginable consequences" – Full Knesset address

The Prime Minister took the opportunity to respond to both political criticism and the emotional protests of bereaved families present at the session.

In his address, Netanyahu started by turning his attention to the families of the hostages. Amid the tension, Labor MK Gilad Kariv shouted at him, “These are bereaved families! You don’t even know!” Netanyahu fired back, “I know very well what bereaved families are, shame on you.” Netanyahu emphasized that Israel’s firm decisions had already led to the return of 80 hostages, far surpassing the initial 50 agreed upon in the first deal. The Prime Minister highlighted that Hamas had delayed further deals, even though U.S. officials also criticized the militant group’s position. “In this deal, Hamas initially agreed to release only 12 hostages, but thanks to my insistence, and that of my colleagues, we reached a much better deal. This is something you don’t mention.”

Netanyahu made it clear that Israel would not relent in its efforts to bring back all hostages, both the living and the fallen. He mentioned Israel’s ongoing negotiations, including the Wittecoff plan, which proposed a ceasefire during Ramadan and Passover in exchange for the return of all hostages. However, Hamas rejected this plan. Netanyahu also condemned Hamas for hoarding goods in Gaza to fuel its terror activities, adding, “I say to Hamas – if you don’t release our hostages, there will be consequences you cannot imagine.”

In his speech, Netanyahu also discussed Israel's military progress since the October 7 terror attacks, describing the immense price paid by their enemies and outlining Israel’s strategy for the next stages of the conflict. “We are preparing for the next stages of the War of Revival – the war of seven fronts. We will not stop until we achieve all our goals of victory,” he said. He acknowledged that not all of Israel’s military actions would be publicly disclosed, saying that some processes develop in secrecy, and when the right time comes, actions will unfold powerfully.

Addressing the topic of the Commission of Inquiry, Netanyahu stressed the importance of conducting a thorough investigation into the October 7 attacks but insisted that the inquiry must be objective, balanced, and independent. He criticized the opposition for pushing for an inquiry with predetermined conclusions. “We want a truthful, unbiased committee that will investigate everything, without exception,” Netanyahu declared. He also called for an investigation into leaks from confidential security meetings, particularly a serious leak by MK Kariv. Netanyahu claimed the committee should also address false narratives and attacks on Israeli security, saying, “What are they investigating? Fabricated stories.”

Finally, Netanyahu took aim at what he called the collaboration between bureaucrats in the “deep state” and the media. “The cooperation between the bureaucratic establishment and the media failed in the U.S. and it will fail here too,” he said. Despite the ongoing political pressure, Netanyahu vowed to persist in his commitment to the truth and to Israel’s eventual victory. “I will continue to demand a balanced, truthful Commission of Inquiry, and I will keep working toward an absolute victory.”

With his remarks, Netanyahu made it clear that he would not shy away from criticism or political challenges. He emphasized his administration’s resolve to continue fighting both in terms of securing hostages and dealing with the internal political debates surrounding the handling of the October 7 events.