Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu definitively stated in a Monday speech that his nation will not stand down in its retributive assault against Hamas, more than three weeks after the terrorist group’s invasion of Israel.
“Israel will not agree to a cessation of hostilities after the horrific attacks of October 7,” Netanyahu told the foreign press on Monday. “Calls for a ceasefire are a call for Israel to surrender to Hamas, to surrender to terror, to surrender to barbarism. That will not happen. Ladies and gentlemen, the Bible says that there is a time for peace and a time for war. This is a time for war.”
In the speech, the prime minister justified Israel’s right to defend itself by comparing its response to America’s decisions to enter World War II after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and to launch the War on Terror after the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. He pointed out that there were virtually no prominent voices calling for the U.S. to agree to a ceasefire immediately after those attacks.
“This is a turning point — for leaders and for nations,” he added, promising Israel will win the war that it didn’t start. “It is time for all of us to decide if we are willing to fight for a future of hope and promise or surrender to tyranny and terror.”
The declaration to the world comes days after 120 countries in the United Nations voted for a “sustained humanitarian truce” in Gaza, as the Palestinian region’s death toll continues to mount. While bombarding the Gaza Strip with airstrikes, Israeli forces recently expanded their ground operations in Gaza to root out Hamas and secure the return of hostages.
Earlier this month, Israel declared war against Hamas shortly after its militants killed more than 1,400 Israelis and took more than 200 hostages, including foreign nationals, back to their complex tunnel system.
On Monday, Hamas released a hostage video, in which three Israeli women criticized their elected leader for unsuccessfully negotiating their release and for failing to prevent the October 7 attack. Netanyahu condemned the video as “cruel psychological propaganda” filmed by Hamas. “Our heart is with you and with all the other hostages,” he said of the video. “We are doing everything we can to bring all the kidnapped and missing home.”
So far, the Islamic terrorist faction has released only four hostages — two Israelis and two U.S.-Israeli nationals — since the conflict began 23 days ago.