Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the war in Gaza is back on Tuesday night because he believes it’s the only way to force Hamas to free the remaining hostages.
“From now on, negotiations will be conducted only under fire,” the premier said in his evening address to the Jewish state. “We have gone back to fighting with great force.”
Netanyahu also warned that Tuesday’s barrage — which killed more than 400 people and left 562 others injured, according to the Hamas-run Ministry of Health — was “just the beginning” as he vowed to ramp up the offensive in Gaza.
At least four senior officials, including two top cops in the Hamas administration, were killed in the strikes, according to the Israeli military.
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, which helped carry out the Oct. 7 terrorist attack and kidnappings, confirmed that one of its spokespersons was also killed in the strikes.
Israel said it was following through on its promise of “strong action” against Hamas for refusing to release the remaining 59 hostages in Gaza — 24 of whom are still believed to be alive, including New Jersey native Edan Alexander.
Netanyahu ultimately blamed Hamas for the breakdown in the cease-fire talks, accusing the terrorists of rejecting a US-backed deal to extend the first phase of the truce in exchange for some of the living hostages.
Hamas has repeatedly said it would only back proposals that would move the talks forward to the second phase of the deal, which would see all living hostages freed and Israeli troops removed from Gaza.
Netanyahu slammed such demands, and said his main goal was to “destroy Hamas” and ensure Gaza would “no longer pose a threat to Israel.”
“We are winning this war, but the campaign is long from over,” he added.
Netanyahu has maintained throughout the war that military pressure serves as Israel’s best means to rescue the hostages.
Israeli leaders have said they won’t stop the fighting unless Hamas, which carried out the Oct. 7, 2023, terror attack, is either eliminated or cedes power in Gaza.
Hamas slammed the Israeli attack, accusing the Jewish state’s government of an “unprovoked escalation,” as strikes rained down in Gaza in multiple locations.
“The international community faces a moral test: Either it allows the return of the crimes committed by the occupation army or it enforces a commitment to ending the aggression and war against innocent people in Gaza,” terror organization official Taher Nunu said.
Various United Nations officials have expressed shock over the strikes, including Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who called for humanitarian aid to resume in Gaza and the hostages to be released unconditionally.
Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the UN, called on the Security Council to condemn the sudden renewed fighting in Gaza during the holy month of Ramadan.
“This can never be justified and must stop immediately,” Mansour said. “You are the Security Council. Act. Stop this criminal action.”
Netanyahu, however, said no amount of backlash or protest would deter Israel from stopping its attacking in Gaza, warning Hamas not to count on the growing international condemnation to serve a purpose.
“Nothing will stop us from achieving all the goals of the war,” the premier said.
The White confirmed that it had been consulted on before Israel’s attack on Tuesday, with the Trump administration voicing its support over the decision to return to war.
Netanyahu also reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to working with the US to fight Iran’s terror proxies in the region, including Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who fired a missile at a southern Israel base on Tuesday.
The Iran-backed terror group said it would renew its attacks against Israel and US ships in the Red Sea now that the cease-fire is over.
With Post wires
