Netanyahu: “we are preparing for a ground incursion”
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has broadcast to the nation that the timing of the planned incursion into Gaza will not happen until all safeguards are in place to protect of the country’s soldiers.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the nation, March 1, 2023. Credit: GPO.
He said that the goals are to eliminate Hamas by destroying its military and governing abilities, and to do everything possible to bring our captives home.
He pointed out: “We are raining down hellfire on Hamas. We have already eliminated thousands of terrorists – and this is only the beginning. At the same time, we are preparing for a ground incursion. I will not detail when, how or how many, or the overall considerations that we are taking into account, most of which are unknown to the public, and this is how it needs to be, in order to better safeguard the lives of our soldiers.
I would like to be clear. The timing of the IDF action will be determined unanimously by the War Cabinet, together with the IDF Chief-of-Staff. Together with the Security Cabinet, we are working to ensure the optimal conditions for our soldiers in the coming actions. When we go into Gaza, in the continuation of the fighting, we will exact the full price from the murderers, those who perpetrated Hamas-ISIS’s horrors. I again call on the non-combatant population in Gaza – evacuate to the southern Gaza Strip.
We do not forget for a moment the immense pain of the loss of over 1,400 of our brothers and sisters, who were massacred in cold blood and who heroically fell in battle against the bloodthirsty monsters who have risen up to destroy us.”
I bow my head before all of the families that have been devastated. I know that their lives will never be the same. I send them a heartfelt, loving and consoling embrace from the entire nation.”
He said Israel is recruiting the support of world leaders for the continuation of the campaign. He told the nation: “Today, many of them understand what we have been telling them since 2014: Hamas is ISIS and ISIS is Hamas. I tell them that our war against Hamas is also their war. Our war against Hamas is a test for all of humanity. It is a fight between the Iran-Hezbollah-Hamas axis of evil and the forces of freedom and progress. Light will defeat darkness.”
